Looking for show and tell letter Y ideas? Y is a short list, and that is fine, because one color does a lot of the work. Things that start with Y include a yo-yo, yarn, yogurt and anything yellow: a crayon, a rubber duck, a toy school bus. Pick one item your preschooler likes, practice two sentences, and show and tell (or show and share, as some classrooms call it) is ready.
At the start of a word, Y says /y/, as in yo-yo and yarn. In the middle or at the end of a word it sounds different: toy, key, bunny. If the teacher's note says the item has to start with Y, pick one marked /y/.
10 easy letter Y show and tell ideas to grab right now
Yo-yo/y/The classic. It fits in a pocket.What to say: This is my yo-yo. Yo-yo starts with Y. Y, yo-yo. It goes up and down.
Yarn/y/A small ball, or a few pieces tied together.What to say: This is yarn. Yarn starts with Y. Y, yarn. It is soft.
Yogurt/y/A sealed cup or pouch. A clean empty cup works too.What to say: This is yogurt. Yogurt starts with Y. Y, yogurt. I eat it for a snack.
Yellow crayon/y/The simplest answer, and always right.What to say: This is a yellow crayon. Yellow starts with Y. The sun is yellow. I can draw the sun.
Yellow rubber duck/y/Straight from the bath.What to say: This is my duck. It is yellow. Yellow starts with Y. It floats in my bath.
Yellow school bus/y/A toy bus from the car bin.What to say: This is a school bus. It is yellow. Yellow starts with Y. The wheels go round.
Yellow block/y/A LEGO brick or a wooden block.What to say: This is a yellow block. Yellow starts with Y. Y, yellow. I can build with it.
Yoga mat/y/Rolled up. Your child can show one pose.What to say: This is a yoga mat. Yoga starts with Y. I can do a tree pose. Watch me!
Yam/y/Many stores sell sweet potatoes as yams.What to say: This is a yam. Yam starts with Y. Y, yam. It is orange inside.
Yellow flower/y/A dandelion from the yard works well.What to say: This is a yellow flower. Yellow starts with Y. I picked it in my yard.
Tap what matters this morning and the list shortens to match.
Showing 63 of 63 ideas
Toys that start with Y
Yo-yoThe classic. It fits in a pocket./y/
YahtzeeThe dice game. Bring the cup and the dice./y/
Toy yachtAny toy boat with a cabin can be a yacht./y/
Toy yield signFrom a car set, or draw one. It is a triangle./y/
Yu-Gi-Oh card/y/
Household items that start with Y
YarnA small ball, or a few pieces tied together./y/
Yoga matRolled up. Your child can show one pose./y/
Yardstick/y/
Yearbook/y/
Yes and no cardsWrite YES on one card and NO on another./y/
Photo of your yard/y/
Yellowstone postcardOr a photo of a geyser./y/
Yellow things that start with Y
Yellow crayonThe simplest answer, and always right./y/
Yellow rubber duckStraight from the bath./y/
Yellow school busA toy bus from the car bin./y/
Yellow blockA LEGO brick or a wooden block./y/
Yellow flowerA dandelion from the yard works well./y/
Yellow highlighter/y/
Yellow sticky notes/y/
Yellow balloon/y/
Yellow leaf/y/
Foods that start with Y
YogurtA sealed cup or pouch. A clean empty cup works too./y/
YamMany stores sell sweet potatoes as yams./y/
Yellow pepper/y/
Yellow squash/y/
Yellow mustard packet/y/
Yeast packet/y/
Yellow cake mix/y/
Yukon gold potatoA potato with yellow skin./y/
Yoo-hoo/y/
Picture of an egg yolkThe yellow part of an egg./y/
Animals that start with Y
Yak/y/
YorkieA stuffed puppy or a photo of a Yorkshire terrier./y/
Picture of a yellow jacket/y/
Photo of a yellow Lab/y/
Picture of a yellow tangThe bright yellow fish in Finding Nemo./y/
Yellow chick/y/
Books and characters that start with Y
Yertle the Turtle/y/
Yummy Yucky/y/
YokoA picture book about a kitten and her lunch./y/
You Are My Sunshine/y/
Yoda figure/y/
Yoshi plushThe green dinosaur from the Mario games./y/
Yogi Bear/y/
Yeti toy/y/
Yo Gabba Gabba toy/y/
Clothes that start with Y
Yankees cap/y/
Yoga pants/y/
Yellow raincoat/y/
Yellow shirt/y/
YarmulkeAlso called a kippah./y/
Things with Y in the word
Toy keysKey ends with Y.in the word
Play doughin the word
Teddy bearin the word
Stuffed bunnyin the word
Toy ponyin the word
Stuffed monkeyin the word
Baby dollin the word
Pennyin the word
Family photoin the word
Party hatin the word
Birthday cardin the word
Daisyin the word
Nothing matches both choices. Tap "Any idea" to see the whole list again.
/y/ Says /y/, the usual Y sound at the start of a wordin the word Has a Y in the word, with a different sound
What to say at letter Y show and tell
Three short sentences are enough for a three to five year old. Practice once at home with the item in hand.
Name it. "This is my yo-yo."
Say the letter. "Yo-yo starts with Y. Y, yo-yo."
Tell one thing. "It goes up and down."
For a child who loves an audience: hide the item in a bag and give three clues. "It is round. It has a string. It starts with Y." The class guesses before the reveal.
Letter Y show and tell for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten
Toddlers (2 to 3)
One familiar thing to hold up and name is plenty: a yellow duck, a yo-yo, a cup of yogurt. "This is my duck. It is yellow."
Preschoolers (3 to 5)
Name the item and say the letter: "Yo-yo starts with Y." Most ideas on this page are written for this age.
Kindergarten
Add the sound and one fact: "Y says /y/. Y, yo-yo. It goes up and down." Items marked /y/ fit best here.
Printable letter Y pictures for show and tell
Nothing at home that fits? Print one page, let your child color it in, and it goes in the folder. One PDF with 8 pages, one picture on each, with the words your child can say underneath.
A yo-yo, yarn, a cup of yogurt, a yam, a yoga mat and anything yellow, such as a crayon, a rubber duck or a toy school bus. These say /y/, the sound Y makes at the start of a word.
What toy starts with the letter Y?
A yo-yo, a toy yacht, the dice game Yahtzee, a Yoshi plush and a Yoda figure. A yellow toy works too: a rubber duck, a school bus or a yellow block.
What starts with Y in your house?
Yarn, a yardstick, a yoga mat, a yearbook, yogurt, a yam and yellow mustard. Yellow things count as well: a highlighter, sticky notes, a crayon.
What are easy Y words for preschool show and tell?
Yo-yo, yarn, yam, yak, yes and yellow are short words a three to five year old can say clearly. Yellow is the easiest, because your child can point to the color.
What sound does the letter Y make?
At the start of a word Y says /y/, as in yo-yo, yes and yellow. In the middle or at the end of a word it can sound like a vowel, as in toy, key and bunny.
Can my child bring something yellow for letter Y?
Yes. Yellow starts with Y and says /y/, so a yellow crayon, block or flower matches what the class is learning. Have your child say the color first: "This is a yellow duck."
