Family Game Night!

Bring out the board games! Gather the family! Let’s play! Speech and language can be incorporated into almost any game you have on your shelves. Games can enhance a number of areas including articulation, vocabulary, grammar, comprehension and social skills. And the best part? Everyone is having so much fun PLAYING that they don’t even realize they are LEARNING core everyday skills at the same time!

Here are just a few of my favorites that focus on speech and language but any game can be chosen to make learning fun.

Games can be modified for all ages and many come in junior editions for the younger children. Draw pictures for targeted words if reading is more difficult.

Scattegories – A letter is chosen and players must provide words beginning with that letter in a variety of categories.  Specific sounds can be addressed by requiring all responses to begin with the targeted phoneme. For example, all responses would have to start with “s” in the first round, “l” in the next round and so on. Categorization and vocabulary are addressed every time you provide a word. Discuss the word chosen and have your child formulate a sentence using that word.  

Taboo – A target word is described to your partner without using a list of words provided. This game is great for vocabulary, synonym/antonyms.  For example, a child may try and get his partner to say “cold” by providing the clue “if something is not hot, it is ___” or “means the same as chilly”.

Headbandz – Children need to utilize question formation and comprehension to try and guess a hidden targeted word. Similar to 20 questions, one may ask “Is it an animal? or “Is it something you eat?” Parents can choose specific cards that include targeted sounds. A great game to expand vocabulary.

Guess Who? – In this game, a specific picture of a person is chosen. Some are girls, some boys. Some have hats. Others have glasses and so on. Players must ask questions to eliminate options and narrow down choices until one face remains. For example, the child might ask “Does your person have blue eyes? If the answer is “yes” than the child would eliminate all people that don’t have blue eyes. This game is great for question formulation, concepts, vocabulary, and yes/no response.

Outburst – A great game for categorization and vocabulary. Players are given a category and must try and name the items listed on the card. The more words you match, the more points you earn!

Zingo – Similar to Bingo, players take turns matching picture tiles to the ones on their board. Talk about the function of the words, describe them or even make up a sentence using the words.

Rory’s Story Cubes – Roll and talk! This game includes some dice with pictures on them.  Children can create sentences and stories using their imagination.  Expressive language skills including grammar, sentence formulation and vocabulary can be addressed with this game.

Uno Moo – A younger version of the classic card game Uno, Uno Moo uses different colored animal pieces in a plastic barn. Players must take turns matching either the animal or the color to pieces. Great game for vocabulary, matching skills and turn taking.

Blurt – Listen to the definition and be the first player to shout out the answer! For example, “a partially dried grape”, blurt out “raisin” before anyone else and you win the round! An excellent game for vocabulary, comprehension, and word finding! Adaptations can be made for younger children.

Cranium Jr. – Players are given a question card and must act, draw, hum, or sculpt to get their teammates to guess the answer. Vocabulary and word naming are the targeted areas.

Catch Phrase – Similar to Taboo, players must give verbal clues to their teammates in order for them to guess the given word/phrase.  Used to focus on vocabulary, descriptions, antonyms/synonyms, and categorization.

Games for younger children can be used to introduce them to the whole concept of playing games.  Candyland, Chutes and Ladders and Trouble are some board games while Memory and Go Fish are some card games. Basic skills such as turn taking, eye contact, and attention are addressed. You can also target certain sounds before each roll of the die or each turn.

Board games are a great way to enhance your child’s communication skills and have fun too. So get the family together, bring out some snacks and let the games begin!!