Did you know that sight words account for nearly 75% of the words in beginner-level books? For kindergarteners, mastering these words is essential for smoother reading and better comprehension. Teaching sight words early can reduce frustration during reading time and boost your child’s confidence. In this blog, you’ll find a ready-to-use list of 250+ sight words for kindergarten kids, printable resources, and simple strategies to make learning fun and effective.
What Are Sight Words?
Sight words are commonly used words that children are taught to recognize instantly without sounding them out. These words frequently appear in texts, and knowing them helps children read more fluently.
Example: Words like the, and, is, he, she, and you are sight words that children often encounter in books.
250+ Kindergarten Sight Words List – Free Printable
List of 100 Dolch Sight Words
Dolch sight words are a list of common words that children are encouraged to memorize. These words were created by Dr. Edward William Dolch and are widely used in schools to improve reading fluency. Here are Dolch sight words for kindergarten that you can use to help your child start reading confidently.
| a | all | am | and | are |
| at | ate | be | black | brown |
| but | came | did | do | eat |
| four | get | good | have | he |
| into | like | must | new | no |
| now | on | our | out | please |
| pretty | ran | ride | saw | say |
| she | so | soon | that | there |
| they | this | too | under | want |
| was | well | went | what | white |
| who | will | with | yes | you |
| after | again | an | any | as |
| ask | by | could | every | fly |
| from | give | going | had | has |
| her | him | his | how | just |
| know | let | live | may | of |
| old | once | open | over | put |
| round | some | stop | take | thank |
| them | then | think | walk | when |
| where | why | wish | work | would |
| write | your | yes | not | my |
Play and Learn Dolch Words
Learn Dolch sight words through exciting, level-based word challenges
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List of 100 Fry Sight Words
Fry sight words are a list of the most frequently used words in English, created by Dr. Edward Fry. For kindergarteners, mastering these common sight words for kindergarten is essential because they appear in nearly every text they read. Below is a list of 100 Fry sight words designed to build your child’s reading confidence and fluency.
| 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 |
| all | am | are | at | be |
| black | brown | but | came | did |
| do | eat | four | get | good |
| have | he | into | like | must |
| new | no | now | on | our |
| out | please | pretty | ran | ride |
| saw | say | she | so | soon |
| that | there | they | this | too |
| under | want | was | well | went |
| what | white | who | will | with |
| yes | your | after | again | any |
| ask | every | fly | from | give |
Level Up Your Fry Word Knowledge
Play games designed for Fry word mastery
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50+ Sight Words for Kindergarten Kids by Difficulty Level
Many parents struggle with knowing where to start when teaching sight words. Introducing words that are too advanced too soon can frustrate children, while starting with overly simple words may slow their progress. To make learning smoother, here’s a categorized list of sight words—beginner, intermediate, and advanced—to match your child’s current reading level and gradually build their skills.
| Beginner | Intermediate | Advanced |
| a | all | after |
| and | am | before |
| in | are | better |
| is | by | bring |
| it | call | clean |
| I | can | done |
| my | come | drink |
| no | did | first |
| on | do | grow |
| the | eat | hold |
| to | for | hurt |
| up | from | laugh |
| we | go | light |
| you | has | right |
| me | have | seven |
| he | help | start |
| she | her | today |
| see | his | warm |
| look | like | write |
20 Sentences With Kindergarten Sight Words- Printable List
Memorizing sight words is a good start, but children often struggle to use them in real-life reading. The key is helping them understand sight words in context, not just as isolated words. These kindergarten sight word sentences are simple and designed to show how these words work in everyday language.
| I see a dog. |
| We like to play. |
| Can you jump? |
| She is my friend. |
| The cat is big. |
| He has a red ball. |
| Look at the sun. |
| It is a good day. |
| I can run fast. |
| You are my best friend. |
| The bird can fly. |
| Come here to see this. |
| They are happy. |
| Where is my book? |
| We go to the park. |
| She likes to read. |
| This is my toy. |
| Do you want some? |
| He is a little boy. |
| I like to look at the stars. |
Related Reading: List of Sight Words for First Graders
5 Easy Tips for Teaching Sight Words to Kindergarten
Teaching sight words can feel challenging, especially if your child loses interest or struggles to remember the words. Here are some tips to make learning effective and fun:
1. Ditch flashcards, instead use games to teach sight words
Make learning playful! If your child gets bored or frustrated easily, online sight word games are a great way to make learning fun and exciting! These games use bright colors, fun characters, and cheerful music to keep your child engaged while they practice sight words.
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Here’s why parents love them:
- Adapts to your child’s level: The games automatically adjust to match your child’s reading ability, so you don’t have to worry about choosing the right level—it’s done for you.
- Fun and encouraging: Every wrong answer gets a friendly “Let’s try again!” so your child stays motivated and never feels discouraged.
- Track progress: You’ll get detailed reports on which words your child is learning well and where they need more practice.
- Learning through play: These games turn screen time into learning time by sneaking sight word practice into a fun activity your child will enjoy.
2. Make sight words stick with hands-on activities
Use hands-on sight word activities to make words stick. Let your child trace words in sand, form them with playdough, or write them on a chalkboard. Repetition combined with creativity makes a big difference.
3. Teach sight words in context, not isolation
Practice using sight words in sentences. If your child struggles to connect sight words to real meaning, these worksheets are exactly what you need. They provide practical, engaging exercises where kids use sight words in real sentences, helping them move beyond simple memorization.
Packed with activities like fill-in-the-blanks, word tracing, and context-based challenges that make learning interactive and fun. With clear instructions and visually appealing designs, these worksheets keep kids engaged while reinforcing their understanding of sight words.
4. Avoid overwhelm, focus on 3–5 words at a time
Focus on just 3–5 words at a time. Once your child has mastered these, move on to new ones. Smaller goals keep the process manageable and less stressful.
5. Weave sight words into daily life
Integrate examples of sight words for kindergarten kids into daily life. Point them out in books, on signs, or during activities like grocery shopping. For example, say, “Can you find the word the on this sign?” If you’re looking for a more structured way to fit sight word practice into your busy schedule, consider using leveled reading books. These books are designed for independent reading and encourage kids to recognize and note sight words as they read.
What makes them so effective?
- They are customized to your child’s reading level, ensuring that the content is neither too easy nor too challenging.
- These books come with Read to Me and Read Myself features allowing your child to read independently
- You can track your child’s progress and identify which words they’ve mastered.
- Detailed reports help you pinpoint areas where your child needs extra support.
These books save you time while ensuring your child continues to build their sight word skills effectively. Check out these recommended books to get started-
Conclusion
Teaching sight words to kindergarten kids often comes with challenges like keeping children engaged, helping them remember words, and finding time for practice. Address these issues by using fun, hands-on methods, focusing on just a few high-frequency sight words at a time, and incorporating them into daily life.
Related Reading: Best Sight Word Apps to Boost Reading Skills
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why should kindergarten kids learn sight words?
Sight words are common words that appear often in books. Teaching these words helps kids recognize them instantly, making reading faster and easier.
How many sight words should a kindergartener know?
Kindergarteners should know around 50-75 sight words by the end of the school year, depending on their pace and school curriculum.
Which sight words should I teach first?
Start with simple and frequently used words like “a,” “I,” “the,” “is,” and “and.” These words are easy to learn and appear in most beginner texts.
What are the benefits of learning kindergarten sight words?
Learning sight words improves reading speed, fluency, and confidence. It also helps kids focus on understanding the meaning of what they read instead of sounding out every word.
