Verbs For Kids: 50 Easy Verbs To Introduce!
Is your child starting to sound out words and piece together sentences? Verbs—those action-packed little words—are a key part of helping everything click.
If you’re building your child’s early reading skills, practicing common verbs is a great (and super simple) place to start. These words help kids understand what’s happening in a sentence—and they’re everywhere once you start noticing them!
Hi, I’m Miss Beth—founder of Big City Readers, where we make early literacy fun, playful, and something your whole family can enjoy. I’m all about learning through everyday moments like reading, singing, playing, and chatting it up with your little one.
In this post, we’re diving into the world of verbs: what they are, why they matter, and a bunch of fun ways to practice them at home. Let’s get moving (see what I did there?)!
POP QUIZ: What IS a verb?
A verb is a word that shows action or something that’s happening. It tells us what someone or something does. Run, jump, eat, play—those are all verbs. Even words like is, am, and are count as verbs because they show a state of being.
How to Explain It to Your Child:
You can keep it simple by saying:
“A verb is an action word. It tells what someone is doing. If you can do it—like jump, clap, or sleep—it’s probably a verb!”
To make it stick, try pointing out verbs during play or reading time. For example:
“Look, the dog is barking—that’s a verb!”
“You’re running so fast! That’s a verb too.”
Making it interactive helps kids connect the word to what they’re doing or seeing in real time.
When Do Verbs Come Into The Picture For Reading?
Children typically begin using verbs between 18 and 24 months, after they’ve learned a few nouns. As they approach reading readiness, recognizing verbs helps them make sense of simple sentences and stories. Early readers who know common verbs are more likely to understand and enjoy what they read, as verbs are essential for both spoken and written language.
How Exactly Do You Raise a Reader?
Helping your child grow as a learner isn’t just a one-time chat at a parent-teacher conference or a moment in the classroom—it’s an ongoing journey! And guess what? You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. I’m here to help guide you every step of the way.
If you’re ready to take the next step in supporting your child’s reading development, I can’t recommend my Raising Readers Workshop enough! This workshop is your crash course in everything you need to know to teach kids how to read effectively and joyfully.
50 Easy Verbs For Kids:
eat
drink
go
come
stop
sit
stand
sleep
wake
wash
run
jump
walk
skip
dance
climb
crawl
roll
slide
swing
brush
dress
help
hug
kiss
play
read
write
draw
sing
shout
whisper
call
tell
ask
answer
open
close
clean
cook
pour
mix
fix
build
throw
catch
kick
push
pull
look
How To Introduce Verbs To Kids
While the idea of introducing a new part of language to your child may feel complicated, they have a basic understanding of verbs already! Here are some ideas to introduce verbs in simple, fun, and natural ways:
Talk Through Your Day: Narrate what you and your child are doing using action words. For example, say, “We wash our hands,” or “You jump so high!” This helps your child connect the word to the action as it happens.
Play Action Games: Try games like “Simon Says” or charades, where your child listens for a verb and acts it out. These games make learning verbs active and memorable.
Use Favorite Books: While reading together, pause to point out what characters are doing. Ask, “What is the cat doing?” and encourage your child to answer with a verb like “running” or “climbing.”
Sing + Move: Choose songs that include lots of action words, like “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” Singing and moving together help playfully reinforce the meaning of verbs.
Offer Choices: Give your child options using verbs, such as “Do you want to hop or spin?” This encourages them to listen for and use new action words.
Navigating Challenges When Introducing Verbs
Just like any new skill, introducing verbs to your child may come with challenges. Here are some of the most common difficulties I hear from parents and how to help work through them with confidence:
If You Have Trouble Keeping Your Child Motivated And Engaged…
Choose verbs that match your child’s interests (Ex: “kick” for soccer fans, “paint” for little artists). Rotate activities to keep things fresh—move from games to crafts to songs to outdoor play. Celebrate every attempt, and let your child take the lead whenever possible.
If You Are Trying To Introduce Verbs To Different Ages…
For toddlers, use lots of visuals, repetition, and movement. For older kids, try more complex games, sentence-building, or storytelling challenges. Some children learn best by seeing, others by doing—mix up your activities to appeal to all learning styles.
How You, As A Parent, Can Handle Mistakes And Your Child’s Frustration…
Be a patient role model. If your child uses a verb incorrectly (Ex: “goed” instead of “went”), gently repeat the correct version in your response. Avoid direct correction; instead, model the right form in conversation.
How You Can Build Confidence For The Entire Family…
Break learning into small, manageable steps and celebrate progress. Use praise, stickers, or small rewards to reinforce effort and achievement. If your child feels stuck, take a break and return to the activity later with a fresh approach.
Verbs For Kids Take Time To Master, So Celebrate Progress Every Step of the Way!
Learning and using new verbs doesn’t happen overnight. Every child develops language skills at their own pace, and it’s completely normal for some verbs to “click” right away while others take a little longer.
The most important thing is to keep modeling, practicing, and making learning fun. Celebrate every small success—whether your child tries a new verb, uses it in a sentence, or even just acts it out during play. With your encouragement and patience, your child will continue to build their confidence and communication skills, one action word at a time!
Do you have any more questions about verbs for kids? Please let me know in the comments! And to keep up with the latest child education strategies, check out my recent posts: