Play has often been considered to be the work of children. While many children tend to think of “playing” as time for electronics, playing board games and card games provide opportunities to socialize while building on important life skills. In addition to providing valuable time interacting with family and friends, playing games is also a great way to help children learn improved communication skills (both receptively and expressively).
Many of the games that are listed can be adapted for various ages/skills by playing with other rules (which also works on flexibility). Examples of rule changes include eliminating timers; working in pairs or groups; eliminating the need to write answers; reducing the number of rules that are used; creating your own games using the game pieces such as using pictures for describing, comparing, etc.
Here is a list of games to consider for you child for the holidays or anytime. Although the games below are listed based on specific areas of language, the games typically can help improve various areas of language while having fun.
Receptive and expressive language including language concepts, following directions, retaining, recalling and integrating information, formulating sentences, describing, explaining, categorization, associations, etc:
Scattergories: Thinking of words that fall into a list of various categories that also start with a specific letter
Wordplay: Thinking of words that fall into a specific category that also start with a letter that is chosen by spinning a spinner
Frazzle: Naming words that fit a chosen category and initial letters more quickly than your opponent
Headbanz: Asking yes/no questions to figure out the picture of an item that is placed on your “Headbanz”
Double Ditto: Thinking of items that may fall into atypical categories and then seeing if the answers match those of other players
Scavenger Hunts: Either purchased or homemade games where items are presented for children to find. Items can be presented either verbally, through pictures or even clues that are spoken or written
Go Fish: Naming and describing pictures while learning vocabulary, turn-taking skills, etc.
UNO cards with various characters for describing such as Dory, Frozen, Spiderman, etc. Instead of playing the typical game of UNO, such cards can be used for describing and playing matching games or Go Fish
Stare: Answering questions and recalling information about a picture you have stared at for 30 seconds
Vocabulary including word retrieval, word meanings:
Matching Games: matching pictures game that can be based on different themes
Bingo with pictures
Word Teasers: Using conversation questions while focusing on vocabulary
Zingo: Matching presented pictures to the pictures on your board by shouting out the picture name
Secret Square Game: Asking questions to guess the target picture
20 Questions: Guessing the items based upon clues that are read by your opponent.
5-Second Rule: Naming items in a category in 5 seconds
Spot it: Using card pairs to find the matching picture and quickly state the answer before someone else does. Various themes are available
Blurt: Guessing words based on clues that are given
Pragmatic skills including turn-taking, topic maintenance, perspective-taking, reading body language, negotiating, compromising, etc:
Charades Games such as Kids on Stage, Guesstures, Charades for Kids, Picture Charades for Kids: Acting out various animals, vehicles, or the use of items for others to guess; also requires the actor to decide on the most important aspects to act out
Cooperative/noncompetitive games: Learning to work together and realize that games are not always about winning
The Secret Door: acting as detectives to work together and figure out which objects are missing
Snail’s Pace Race: matching colors to have snails move along the race path. Can choose to have the first snail win, the last snail, or a snail in the middle
Dinosaur Escape: Helping dinosaurs escape to their island before the volcano erupts
Snug as a Bug in a Rug: Helping the matching bugs to hide under the rug before the stink bugs stink up the place
Race to the Treasure: Stopping the Ogre from getting the treasure by working together to get to the treasure first
Stone Soup: Matching ingredients to go in the soup before the fire goes out
Hoot, Owl, Hoot: Matching colors to help owls get back to their nests
Table Topics: Using cards to start conversations. Various themes are available
Would You Rather? Voting on which you would choose when given 2 dilemmas to theoretically experience
Executive function including organizing, sequencing, problem-solving, negotiating, compromising
Apples to Apples, Junior or Regular: Choosing the item in your hand that is best described by the adjective that is provided. There are different levels of this game.
Pickles to Penguins: Quickly linking pictures together based on commonalities
Guess Who: Guessing the mystery character based on a series of questions
Life: A classic game that requires players to make life choices and deal with the consequences of those choices
Monopoly: A classic game that comes in many themes where players buy and rent properties while managing their money
Clue, Jr: Using clues and the process of elimination to figure out what is hidden in the clubhouse.
The Labyrinth Game: Using planning, strategies, associations, cause-effect, etc. to open passages in order to accumulate your game pieces
Phonological Awareness including articulation, spelling and reading
Rhyming games: Such as I Spy a Mouse in the House! Picture Rhymes, Pop for Word Families, Rhyming Bingo, The Learning Journey Match It! Rhyme and other games that help children focus in on similarities and differences in word endings and word meanings
Mad Gab: Read a series of words while changing the emphasis on the words. Eventually it will sound like a different phrase
The Last Letter: Quickly coming up with a word on one of your cards that starts with the last letter of the previous word that was stated
Scrabble: Making up words with letter tiles. Different levels are available starting with Scrabble, Jr. (which uses letter matching)
My Word: Making up words from cards with letters on them.
Play on Words: Making up words from cards that are presented while using strategies to capture opponents words
Word on the Street: Stating words in a category and identifying letters in that word
Have fun!
Carol A. Walck, M.S. CCC/SLP