CVC Words Game for Kids
CVC Words Game is a free phonics game where young children build consonant-vowel-consonant words. They see a picture, hear the word, and drag letter tiles into three sound boxes, hearing each sound as it goes in.
CVC Words Game
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- Ages
- 4–6
- School years
- Nursery–Year 1
- Skills
- Hearing the three sounds in a short word (segmenting), Matching each sound to its letter, Short vowel sounds: a, e, i, o and u
- Time
- 5 minutes a game
- Cost
- Free, no sign-up
- Updated
How to play CVC Words Game
- Choose a vowel sound (a, e, i, o or u), Mixed, or Word chain, and press Play. The game talks, so turn the sound on.
- Look at the picture and listen to the word. Tap the picture to hear it again as often as you like.
- Drag each letter into a sound box, or just tap a letter and it jumps into the next box. Each letter says its sound as it goes in. A letter that does not fit bounces back, and after two tries the right letter glows.
- When the word is built, listen to it being sounded out and blended, then press the green arrow for the next word. In Word chain, change just one letter to make the next word, such as cat to hat.
What your child learns
- Hearing the three sounds in a short word (segmenting)
- Matching each sound to its letter
- Short vowel sounds: a, e, i, o and u
- Blending sounds together to read a word
- Changing one sound to make a new word (phoneme substitution)
- Building early spelling confidence
About CVC Words Game
CVC words, such as cat, bed, pig, dog and sun, are made of a consonant, a short vowel and a consonant. They are usually the first words children learn to read and spell in Nursery and Reception, because every letter makes its simplest sound. The game uses sound boxes, also called Elkonin boxes: one box for each sound. Children push a letter into each box as they say the sound, which helps them hear that a word is a string of separate sounds in order.
The levels follow the order many phonics lessons teach: short a words first, then e, i, o and u, then a mixed review where children must listen carefully for the vowel. The Word chain level, a good stretch in Year 1, changes one letter at a time, such as cat, hat, hot, hut, nut and net, so children notice whether the first, middle or last sound has changed. Every word is a common word spelt the same in British and American English, with a clear picture. There is no timer and no losing: a wrong letter just bounces back with a spoken clue, and after two tries the right letter glows. On a device that cannot speak, the word is written on the picture card and shown as faint letters to copy.
Which level should my child play?
| School year | Suggested level |
|---|---|
| Nursery | Short a and short e words (cat, bed) |
| Reception | Short i, o and u words, then a mixed review |
| Year 1 | Word chains: change one letter (cat → hat → hot) |
Move up a level after getting three stars two or three times in a row.
🏆 Leaderboard
Full leaderboard →Play a round to get on the board! Create a free account to save your scores.
Frequently asked questions
What are CVC words?
CVC stands for consonant, vowel, consonant. CVC words have three sounds, like c-a-t or s-u-n, and the vowel in the middle makes its short sound. They are the first words most children learn to blend and spell.
What are sound boxes (Elkonin boxes)?
Sound boxes are a row of boxes, one for each sound in a word. Children move a letter into each box as they say the sound. Seeing the sounds side by side helps children hear and spell every sound in order.
Does my child need to read to play?
No. The game speaks the word and the instructions, and each letter says its sound when it is placed. Children only need to look at the picture, listen, and drag or tap the letters.
Is there a time limit?
No. There is no timer and no way to lose. A letter in the wrong box bounces back with a spoken clue, and after two tries the right letter glows, so every child finishes every word.
What is the Word chain level?
Word chain changes one letter at a time to make a new word, for example cat, hat, hot, hut, nut and net. Children work out which sound has changed and swap just that letter, which builds strong reading and spelling skills.
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Help your child shine in English
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