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BRITISH ENGLISH · DISCOVER TOGETHER

Syllable games for preschoolers: one drumbeat per beat

In Girafoufou, counting syllables happens on a drum. Girafoufou says a word, then splits it: “Rab… bit!” In the first game, your child beats the drum once per beat, and each beat says its syllable. In the second, they count the beats of a word they hear and touch the card with as many beads. Everything goes through the ear, with no microphone and no timer — one of the steps towards reading.

Try it together
INSIDE THE ENGLISH GAMEThe syllable drum in the English game: a painted goldfish, the word fish written underneath, and the drum to beat beside it
The syllable drum in the English game: a painted goldfish, the word fish written underneath, and the drum to beat beside it

First game: one drumbeat per syllable

A game is five words: one of one syllable, two of two, two of three. Girafoufou says the word, then splits it. The syllables are written under the picture; at each drumbeat one lights up and the voice says it. The English words are cat, dog, fish and bag (one beat), rabbit and panda (two), banana, tomato and elephant (three): the two “na” of banana do not have the same vowel, and that is fine — it is the beats you count, not the letters.

Second game: count the beats, touch the right card

In “Count the syllables”, Girafoufou says the word and splits it, but nothing is written: your child counts the beats and touches the card with as many beads, one, two or three. Five questions, two cards at the first three and three cards at the last two; each number comes back at least once. A wrong card fades, with a soft sound going down, never a buzzer, and Girafoufou splits the word again with your child.

SIDE BY SIDE

Beat one word together

  1. Listen to the word, then to Girafoufou splitting it.
  2. Beat the drum once per beat.
  3. Listen to the word said again in one go.

The drum is near the end of the English letters path; its step may need to be reached first.

Try the syllable drum

The discovery games are free to try without a card or account. Full family access is paid. Check Prices for the current plans in pounds; changing between French and British English does not require another purchase.

PUT THE SCREEN DOWN

Clap the names

You will need: Nothing — your hands.

  1. Clap your child’s name: one clap per beat.
  2. Clap the names of the family, the pets, the toys.
  3. Find a one-beat word and a three-beat word in the kitchen.

Keep this activity using your browser’s Print menu, or share it by email. No sign-up needed.

Girafoufou · https://www.girafoufou.com/en/learning-games/syllables

Questions
from parents.

Does the game listen to my child?

No. There is no microphone. Your child beats the drum and touches cards; the voice splits the words and counts with them.

Carry the idea a little further.

TRY IT TOGETHER

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Listen to the short A sound in British English, hear how it differs from the letter name and explore a first sound game with your child.

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CH sound: two letters, one sound in chip

Hear the English CH sound in chip and notice how two letters work together. Try the game’s recording and a gentle listening activity off screen.

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Explore letter sounds, compare groups and try a picture puzzle at four. British English voice guidance and a grown-up’s guide to choosing the next step.

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Learning games for 5 year olds: first words and number bonds

Try blending short words, number bonds and early addition at five. See what Girafoufou offers, how to help and when to choose an easier activity.

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Help your child start reading with sounds and shared stories

Explore sounds, blending and short stories in British English. Practical ways to help at home while following the phonics approach your child uses at school.

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French for preschoolers: listen, look and find

Discover first French words with pictures and a gentle voice: animals, food and more. No microphone or speaking test, just a first taste of another language.

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British English phonics games: hear, match and blend

Hear letter sounds, blend short words and explore early reading in British English. See the actual activities and follow your child’s school phonics approach.

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Letter sound M: hear /m/ in map and moon

Hear the sound /m/, distinguish it from the letter name and find it in map and moon. A British English phonics activity to try together.

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Blending sounds games: from c–a–t to cat

Listen to the sounds in a short word and blend them together. Explore a first British English blending game, plus a playful spoken activity off screen.

Explore TRY IT TOGETHER

Rhyming games for preschoolers: cat, bat… can you hear it?

Listen for words with the same ending and choose a matching picture. Explore English rhymes together, then try a simple rhyming game without a screen.

Explore TRY IT TOGETHER

Lowercase letter tracing: follow a path with your finger

Explore simple movements and lower-case letters, following the dots with a finger. Discover Girafoufou’s English writing path and a paper activity to try.

Explore

About this guide

Product guide by the Girafoufou team. Updated . The activities described here are checked against the English game.

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A small discovery.
Then time to play.

The discovery games are free to try without a card or account. Full family access is paid. Check Prices for the current plans in pounds; changing between French and British English does not require another purchase.

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