Games are often associated with fun!
They can be relaxing, competitive, and highly engaging.
But did you know there are several advantages of using games to teach and learn language?
Games are effective because
- They create motivation
- Lower children’s stress
- Give language learners the opportunity for real communication
There are so many different types of games that target different communication strategies and skills including…
- Sorting
- Ordering
- Labeling
- Exchanging Information
- Role-playing
- Guessing
- Spelling
- Listen-and-Do games
- Sharing and Waiting
- Mimicking and so much more!
Games are an encouraging way for children to engage in an activity because they naturally want to do so!
Games help children:
- Find solutions to problems through trial and error
- Figure out meaning
- Learn to interact socially under different circumstances
- Build new skills and confidence
Most importantly, playing games with your child gives you many opportunities to talk! The more you talk together, the more words your child hears, the more opportunities they have to learn letter sounds, and the more your child begins to understand meaning in language.
In addition to boosting language skills, games have many other great benefits!
| Cognitive Skills | identifying numbers, shapes, and symbols and matching “like with like” |
| Emotional Skills | learning how to lose while still having fun |
| Social Skills | sharing; turn-taking; engaging in conversations |
| Gross & Fine Motor Skills | holding and manipulating objects; moving around objects; bending, jumping, and using your body to move in different ways |
Don’t wait! Start adding games to your everyday routines!
Interested in a list of games that promote communication at every stage of your child’s development? Spoiler Alert: These games don’t cost anything!
