Learning Outcomes
Kindergarten readers → practice sound substitution of the middle sound → can change words like bull to bell by swapping one sound.
Word sets on this worksheet → listen for the middle sound difference → recognize that small sound changes make new meanings.
Parent-child practice → take turns saying and blending new words → build stronger early reading habits with clear, quick feedback.
Sound Substitution Word Change Worksheet
This Sound Substitution worksheet asks children to change the middle sound of each word to make a new word, like bull to bell and horse to house.
Sound substitution matters at age 5 and 6 because it connects listening to print, so reading starts to feel more predictable. Many parents notice letter-shape drills stall quickly, so this page keeps the focus on hearing and swapping sounds instead.
For each box on the worksheet, point to the first word, have the child say it, and place a finger over the middle part of the word. Change just that middle sound aloud, then let the child blend and repeat the new word.
Short, word-by-word prompts make feedback fast, and the “middle sound only” rule keeps practice clear without slipping into whole-word guessing. This worksheet is a simple tool for shared, screen-free time that fits a busy day.
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