Kindergarten Sight Words List with Easy Ways to Practice
Sight words are the small, common words children learn to read in a flash, without stopping to sound them out. Words like the, and, see and you show up on nearly every page of an early reader. When a child knows them instantly, reading gets much smoother.
Many kindergarten classrooms in the United States and Canada use the Dolch pre-primer list as a starting point. This guide gives you the full list, sorted into easy groups, explains which words can be sounded out and which are tricky, and shares simple ways to practice at home.
Why sight words matter
Imagine reading a sentence where you have to work out every single word. By the time you reach the end, you have forgotten how it started. That is what reading can feel like for a new reader.
When a child knows common words by sight, they can save their effort for the new, harder words. Reading becomes faster, and the child can pay attention to what the story means, not just what the letters say.
It also builds confidence. A child who can read “I see the big dog” on their own feels like a real reader.
The kindergarten sight words list
The Dolch pre-primer list has 40 words. Here they are, sorted into groups that make them easier to teach.
Words about people
- I
- me
- my
- we
- you
Action words
- come
- find
- go
- help
- jump
- look
- make
- play
- run
- said
- see
Colors and numbers
- blue
- red
- yellow
- one
- two
- three
Where words
- away
- down
- here
- in
- up
- where
Describing words
- big
- funny
- little
Joining and helper words
- a
- and
- can
- for
- is
- it
- not
- the
- to
Print the list and tick off each word as your child learns it. Seeing the ticks add up is a great motivator.
Words you can sound out and words you cannot
Not every sight word is tricky. Many words on the list follow regular phonics patterns, and children should be encouraged to sound them out.
Words that follow the rules. Words like can, not, in, it, is, big, up, run, jump, red and help can be sounded out once a child knows their letter sounds. Sounding them out a few times helps them become sight words naturally.
Words that break the rules. Some words do not sound the way they are spelled.
- said. The letters “ai” make a short e sound, not a long a.
- one. It starts with a w sound that is not written at all.
- two. The “w” is silent.
- the. The e usually makes a soft “uh” sound.
- you. The “ou” makes an “oo” sound.
For these tricky words, explain to your child that they are special words that do not follow the usual rules. Point out the part that is tricky, and help them remember it. Most children find it comforting to know that the word is the problem, not them.
Our phonics flashcards help children practice the letter sounds they need to sound out the regular words.
Teach a few words at a time
Handing a five year old a list of 40 words is too much. Teaching three to five new words a week works much better.
Start with easy, useful words
Begin with words your child can use to make a sentence right away, like I, see, a and the. With just those words and a picture, your child can read “I see a dog.”
Add words you can picture
Next, add color and number words, like red, blue, one and two. Children can link these words to something they can see.
Leave the trickiest words for later
Save words like said, where and away until your child has a steady routine and a few easy wins behind them.
How to know a word is learned
A word is learned when your child can read it quickly, without sounding it out, on several different days. If they need a moment to think, keep practicing it.
A ten minute daily routine
A short routine each day works better than a long session once a week.
- Review. Quickly read the words from earlier in the week.
- Introduce. Show one new word. Say it, spell it out loud and use it in a sentence.
- Find it. Look for the new word in a picture book.
- Play. Finish with a quick game using all the words so far.
Our sight words flashcards make the review step easy. Your child sorts each card into “know it” or “still learning,” so practice focuses on the words that need it.
Games that make sight words fun
Children learn best when they are moving, laughing and using their hands.
Word hunt
Write sight words on sticky notes and hide them around a room. When your child finds one, they read it aloud. For action words like jump or run, they do the action too.
Rainbow writing
Your child writes a sight word in one color, then traces over it in two or three other colors, saying each letter as they go.
Sand or salt tray
Pour a thin layer of salt or sand onto a tray. Your child writes a word with their finger, reads it, then smooths it away and writes the next one.
Slap the word
Lay five word cards on the table. Say a word, and your child slaps the right card as fast as they can. Take turns being the caller.
Word search
Hunting for words in a grid trains children to look at letters in order. Our word search games have simple grids you can play on screen or print out.
Picture matching
Matching a word to a picture helps children connect the letters with the meaning. The word match game gives children friendly practice linking words and pictures.
Tips for parents
- Keep it light. If your child is tired or upset, stop and try again tomorrow.
- Point out words everywhere. Look for “go” on signs, “big” on packages and “the” in books.
- Read together every day. Seeing sight words inside real stories is the best practice of all.
- Celebrate every word. Learning to read is hard work, and each word is worth a cheer.
- Remember every child is different. Some learn five words a week, and some need more time. Both are fine.
What comes after the kindergarten list
Once your child can read all 40 pre-primer words quickly, they are ready for the Dolch primer list. It has 52 words, including all, are, have, he, she, they, want, was and with.
For a closer look at how to teach sight words at every stage, read our guide on how to teach sight words.
Where to find more
For games that mix reading with early math and shapes, visit our kindergarten games page.
For word-building games as your child moves into first grade, try the spelling games for kids hub.