The letter J and its sound
The letter J usually makes the /j/ sound, as at the start of “jump” and “jam.” Children are often shown the capital J and lowercase j together, and the lowercase letter has a dot, which is a handy detail to point out. If you are working on first sounds, see our initial sound activities for kindergarten.
Quick answers: what starts with J for kids?
Some of the easiest J words for young children are jar, jam, jelly, juice, jacket, jeans, jump rope, jigsaw puzzle, jellyfish, jaguar, jet, jeep, jack-in-the-box and jungle. A good J object for a child to hold is a jar (plastic, with a secure lid), a jacket, or a jump rope.
Lists by category
Animals
- Jellyfish
- Jaguar
- Jackrabbit
- Jay (a type of bird, such as a blue jay)
- Jackal
- Joey (a baby kangaroo)
Food and drink
- Jam
- Jelly
- Juice
- Jelly beans (see safety note below)
- Jackfruit
- Jalapeno (a hot pepper, better as a picture than for tasting)
- Jambalaya
Toys and play
- Jigsaw puzzle
- Jump rope
- Jack-in-the-box
- Jacks (a game with small pieces, not for young children)
- Jingle bells or jingle bell toys (use only toys with securely attached parts)
- Jumping jacks (an exercise, not a toy)
- Juggling scarves
Clothing
- Jacket
- Jeans
- Jersey
- Jumper
- Jumpsuit
- Jewelry (as a picture, or use large, play items only)
Household and everyday items
- Jar
- Jug
- Jar lid
- Jewelry box
- Jump rope
- Juicer
Vehicles and places
- Jet
- Jeep
- Jungle
- Jungle gym
- Junkyard
Nature
- Jungle plants (as pictures)
- Jade plant
- Juniper
- Jasmine
Books and characters
- Jack and the Beanstalk (a fun pairing with pre-K plant activities; more titles are in preschool picture books)
- Jack and Jill
- Jingle Bells (song)
- Jonah (as a name)
Words that sound like J but start with G
Some words begin with the /j/ sound but are spelled with a G, such as giraffe, gem and giant. They are good for older children who are ready to talk about spelling, but for simple letter-of-the-week work stick with words that really start with the letter J.
Using J items in activities
Show and tell
Ask each child to bring one safe, familiar J item from home, or a picture of it. Suggestions: a jar, a jacket, a jigsaw puzzle piece set (large pieces only), or a picture of a jellyfish. Send a short note to families about safety (see below).
For more on this routine, see the importance of show and tell for preschoolers.
J sound bag
Fill a bag with a few safe items and let children pull one out, say its name and listen for /j/. See the mystery bag idea in our initial sound activities for kindergarten.
J picture sort
Make cards with pictures that start with J and others that do not, then sort them. This builds the grouping skills explained in why sorting is important in preschool.
Jellyfish craft
Cut streamers or strips of paper for tentacles and glue them to a paper plate or paper bowl. Younger children can tear paper instead of cutting; see cutting activities for pre-K.
Jump and jingle
Children jump when they hear a J word, and stay still for others. Clear the floor and give them room.
J colors
Color a jar, a jacket or a jellyfish, and talk about the colors you used. See introducing colors in preschool.
Safety and age suitability
- Choking hazards: Jelly beans, hard candies, jacks, small jewelry, jingle bells and loose puzzle pieces can be choking hazards for young children. Use pictures or large play items instead of small objects for children under about three, or for any child who mouths objects. Check the age label on toys.
- Glass: Use plastic jars and jugs. Avoid glass in classroom or home activities with young children.
- Food allergies and tasting: If you taste jam, jelly or juice, check for allergies (including nuts, which are sometimes processed alongside spreads) and follow your program’s food policy. Some children, especially toddlers, should not be given foods that are hard or sticky without adult guidance.
- Real animals and plants: Do not bring unfamiliar animals to class. Keep houseplants out of reach, as some can be harmful if chewed.
- Jewelry and cords: Do not use necklaces or cords that could wrap around a neck. Stay close during play with ropes, including jump ropes.
- Supervision: Supervise all hands-on activities and put away small items afterward.