As a mom, you may constantly be on the hunt for fun activities and games that you can play with your kids, especially now since kids are spending more time at home than ever. As parents also work more from home, they’ve got more time to strike that balance with work and giving time to play with kids. Fortunately, if you ran out of ideas, a trip down to your toy store will lead you to so many interactive and educational games, which are quite affordable.
New studies in the field of psychology have proven how playing with kids can help enhance their learning. Kids are very social beings, and they can’t quite grasp the concept of working by themselves yet. So, you’ve got to give them some of your time, even if it’s just half an hour in a day. More than reading books, you can boost the ability of your child to retain the information they gleaned by turning studying into a game. This is also a sneaky way to get your kids to learn more, especially when they’re not really the type that likes to be confined too much in an academic setting.
Playing word count games with kids allows them to add new words to their vocabulary. Because of their desire to win, they also develop the habit of concentrating and focusing on the task that needs to be done.
Along with other ideas from Keep Toddlers Busy, here are a few word games that you can play with your kids:
1. Counting Words
If you have toddlers who are just learning how to count, you can buy or create flashcards that aid them in counting words. The material can have a set of rhyming words like cat, fat, mat, hat, which the child has to tally.
To make it more challenging, add words that deviate from the category and ask the player to count how many words rhymed and didn’t.
Another variation would be to have them deduct the non-rhyming words from the total to incorporate math principles in the game. This can be for kids in primary school that has already started learning addition and subtraction.
2. Guess The Animal
This one doesn’t need any materials. You just need to start with a rhyming word for the animal that you choose. For instance, you can say, I rhyme with house. I am a…
The child then has to guess what creature you’re thinking about based on the clue that you provided. The possible answers for the example above are mouse, grouse, or even cows.
You can even move on to other categories if you like. You can go for objects you find in the school or the playground for a more immersive learning experience.
Another variation is to add tunes to the rhymes to incorporate music, which also helps kids retain information better. Music lessons are valuable, especially for young children.
3. Scrabble
Scrabble is one of the top word games that’s popular all over the world. It has even become a sport, with a dedicated regulating body that creates rules to implement the correct way of playing.
The game is ideal for kids aged nine and up who can read and write. They must also be able to understand the rules to ensure a smooth gaming experience.
You can buy a Scrabble set with ease at stores in your area. To start the game, players must mix the tiles and get one to determine who gets to starts. The person who draws the letter nearest A or a blank tile goes first.
Players are given seven tiles that each contain a letter. During your turn, you must form a word and place the slates provided to you on the board. Afterward, you must add up the score for each letter as well as the special areas if you landed on them. Lastly, get another set of tiles to replace the ones that you discarded.
The game ends when all the tiles have been dispersed either on the board or in the players’ hands. If there are still remaining slates, you can deduct the total from each person’s score. You also have the option to continue playing until the tiles are used up.
4. Hangman
Another popular word game is Hangman. You just need a pen and paper for this activity. This can also be played by two players or with a group.
The game starts with one player thinking of a word and writing blanks that correspond to the letters that form the word. Another participant would have to guess what it is by giving letters.
The guesser would have a limited number of tries based on your agreement. For every incorrect guess, the first player would draw part of the hangman, such as the line for the gallows.
The game goes on until either the hangman drawing is completed or the person guesses the right word.
5. Word Search
Word search games are something that you can do with your kid who’s just learning how to spell and read. With this activity, you have a list of words that you need to find in a chaotic pool of letters. The game ends when you find all the words.
You can even make the game more fun for young kids by creating your own word search puzzles. You can buy foam letters, like the ones usually used for stationary, and use these for the jumbled words. It’s more exciting for kids to see all the colors and feel its 3D texture.
6. Rhyming Animals
This game is perfect for kids that have already started with word rhyming. Give kids a rhyme and let them match it. While it may seem boring, it excites the kids when you give them a small treat whenever they get it right. For example, you can create store credits to your pantry where, depending on how many points they’ve gotten from correct answers, they can afford to get certain chocolates or sweets.
Conclusion
Word games are useful in helping your kids expand their vocabulary. Activities like counting words, guess the animal, scrabble, hangman, and word search test their cognitive skills. It also makes your kids learn and be productive while having fun. Having fun while learning hits two birds with one stone. Children enjoy what they’re doing while you are assured that their brains are collecting information. Moreover, these games also improve concentration, which can help children in their academic and personal lives. If you’re looking for ideas of games to play, start with this list as you head out to buy new games.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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