Preschool sight words are a crucial part of early education. By understanding and teaching sight words to preschoolers, parents and caregivers can help children develop essential early literacy skills. To help you promote these skills at home, we’ve put together this comprehensive sight words for preschool handbook.
In this article, we’ll answer the question, "What are pre k sight words?" and explain their importance in early literacy. Plus, we’ll share a comprehensive list of preschool sight words and offer practical tips for teaching sight words to preschoolers.
Ready to explore the world of pre-k sight words? Here’s everything you need to know.
Is your child in kindergarten? Check out our Guide to Kindergarten Sight Words and discover which words your kindergartener should know!
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Why are sight words important for preschoolers?
How many sight words should a preschooler know?
What are pre k sight words?
First things first - what are sight words for preschoolers? Pre k sight words are commonly used words that children are encouraged to recognize by sight without needing to sound them out.
For example, preschool sight words include simple, high-frequency words like “a,” “and,” "is," "it," "the," and “to.”
Why are these words important for preschoolers?
Sight words are important for preschoolers because they help improve reading fluency and comprehension. More specifically, recognizing sight words "at first sight" (i.e., without sounding them out) helps preschoolers read more smoothly. This skill makes reading less frustrating and more enjoyable. As a result, preschoolers are more likely to want to read often, further improving literacy skill development. Best of all, this can ultimately lead to a lifelong love of reading!
Want to learn more about sight words and why they’re essential in early education? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Sight Words.
How many sight words should a preschooler know?
By the end of their preschool year, preschoolers should be able to recognize 20 to 30 sight words.
That said, please keep in mind that this is an average and that every child learns at a different pace. Therefore, the number of sight words a preschooler knows will vary based on individual learning speed.
More important than the number of sight words your child knows is which pre k sight words they recognize. At this stage, the focus should be on common, high-frequency words that appear in everyday texts.
So, what sight words should preschoolers know? Let’s take a look.
A Complete List of Preschool Sight Words
Two popular lists are commonly used when teaching sight words to preschoolers - the Dolch Sight Words list and the Fry Sight Words list. We’ll explore both below.
Dolch Preschool Sight Words List
The Dolch Sight Words list, compiled by Edward William Dolch, consists of 220 words plus 95 nouns. These words are divided by grade level, with a specific set of words designated for preschoolers.
Below is the list of Dolch sight words for preschool kids.
- a, and, away, big, blue, can, come, down, find, for, funny, go, help, here, I, in, is, it, jump, little, look, make, me, my, not, one, play, red, run, said, see, the, three, to, two, up, we, where, yellow, you
Fry Pre K Sight Words List
The Fry Sight Words list, created by Dr. Edward Fry, includes 1,000 words. These words are ranked according to how frequently they’re used in reading materials.
While the Fry Word list isn’t divided by grade level (i.e., there are no specific Fry preschool sight words), the first 100 words are the most important for young readers. That’s because these words are some of the most common in the English language. In fact, the first 100 words on the Fry list represent about 50% of all words used in children’s books.
Typically, kids start learning the first 100 Fry words list in kindergarten and are expected to know these words by the end of first grade. But, to give your preschooler a head start, consider teaching them the top 25 Fry words.
Below is a list of the top 25 Fry sight words for preschoolers.
- the, of, and, a, to, in, is, you, that, it, he, was, for, on, are, as, with, his, they, I, at, be, this, have, from
Dolch + Fry Sight Words for Preschool
To make it easier for you to determine which sight words your preschooler should know, we’ve combined the Dolch and Fry sight word lists for preschoolers.
If your preschooler recognizes all the preschool sight words on the list below, they’re on their way to success!
- a, and, are, as, at, away, be, big, blue, can, come, down, find, for, from, funny, go, have, he, help, here, his, I, in, is, it, jump, little, look, make, me, my, not, of, on, one, play, red, run, said, see, that, the, they, this, three, to, two, up, was, we, with, where, yellow, you
Now that you know what pre k sight words are and which ones your preschooler should know, let’s discuss how you can teach these words at home.
How to Teach Sight Words to Preschoolers - 5 Games and Activities
Teaching sight words to preschoolers is easy with the right tools! The most important thing is to make learning preschool sight words fun and engaging. This can be done with games, activities, and resources tailored to your child's needs.
Here are some effective games and activities to help you start teaching sight words to preschoolers at home.
Preschool Sight Words Bingo
Preschool Sight Words Bingo is a fun and familiar game designed to help children recognize and remember sight words.
How to play:
- Create bingo cards with a different sight word in each square (use the pre k sight words list above).
- Prepare a set of sight word flashcards to draw from throughout the game.
- Draw a card randomly and call out the word on it. Have your child mark the word on their bingo card.
- The first one to complete a row, column, or diagonal (establish which before the game begins) shouts "Bingo!" and wins.
How this game helps with teaching sight words to preschoolers:
Sight Word Bingo promotes the recognition and recall of sight words by reinforcing these words through repetition and visual association.
Memory Matching Game
The Memory Matching Game helps preschoolers improve sight word recognition and memory by matching sight word cards.
How to play:
- Create pairs of sight word cards (with the help of the preschool sight words list above).
- Lay the cards face down in a grid format.
- Take turns flipping two cards at a time to find matching pairs.
- Each time a match is found, the player keeps the pair and gets another turn.
- When all pairs have been matched up, the player with the most pairs wins!
How this game helps teach sight words for preschool:
This Memory Matching game enhances memory skills and reinforces sight word recognition through repeated exposure and active engagement. Best of all, this game is fun and competitive!
Sight Word Scavenger Hunt
A Sight Words Scavenger Hunt turns learning into an adventure by having children search for sight words hidden around the house.
Activity instructions:
- Write sight words on index cards (use our list of preschool sight words above).
- Hide the words around the house, in the yard, or both.
- Give your child a list of the hidden words and encourage them to find and collect them.
- Once all the words are found, review them together.
BONUS: You can also turn this activity into a competition! To do so, set a time limit for the search. At the end of the time limit, the child who’s found the most pre k sight words wins.
How this activity helps with teaching sight words to preschoolers:
This exercise (or game) combines physical activity with learning, making the process exciting and memorable. It also helps children associate words with their written form in various contexts.
Read Preschool Sight Word Books
Reading sight word books designed for preschoolers is an excellent way to introduce and reinforce sight words.
Activity instructions:
- Choose a fun and engaging book that incorporates sight words.
Not sure where to find good sight word books? The Booka reading app for kids can help! Booka has a large selection of books for preschoolers that contain sight words. Download the reading app here - Booka Reading App for Kids.
- Read the book with your child, pointing out and emphasizing the sight words.
- Encourage your child to read along and identify the sight words as they appear in the story.
- Whenever possible, read books that include sight words daily!
How this activity helps teach sight words for preschool:
This activity promotes reading fluency and comprehension by providing contextual examples of sight words. Repetition and context help children recognize and remember sight words more effectively.
PRO TIP: choosing the right book is essential for this activity. Learn how to choose books for preschoolers.
Sight Word Flashcards
Flashcards are a classic and effective tool for sight word practice, allowing for quick and repetitive learning.
Activity instructions:
- Create flashcards with sight words on one side (use the preschool sight words list above).
- Go through the flashcards with your child, saying each word aloud and having them repeat it.
PRO TIP: Shuffle the flashcards regularly to ensure varied practice.
How this activity helps with teaching sight words to preschoolers:
Flashcards are an easy and effective way to practice pre k sight words and help promote recognition and recall through repetition.
Teach Sight Words at Home with Booka
What’s the easiest way to teach sight words for preschool? A children’s reading app, of course. Designed to support early literacy, the Booka reading app for kids is the perfect tool for teaching preschool sight words at home!
Booka offers a rich library of preschool books that incorporate sight words. These engaging and interactive stories highlight and reinforce sight words, helping promote sight word recognition. Best of all, Booka includes a unique Read to Me feature that will allow your child to follow along with the sight word stories they love, even when you're not available to read aloud to them!
Join the countless parents and caregivers who trust Booka to make sight word learning enjoyable and effective.
Download Booka today and start teaching sight words effortlessly!