Immy and I play a lot of verbal games, especially in the car or while waiting for things to happen. These games are great for developing speaking and listening skills, and thinking and reasoning abilities. As I have indicated below, you will find that some of them are suitable to play with verbal children from about the age of three years old, and others are more suitable for kindergarten through elementary aged children.
1. How many? This simple game started when Immy was around three and fascinated by animals but it can easily be adapted to other themes. I would start by asking a question about a specific animal attribute (see some examples below) and she would call out as many responses as she could think of;
- How many animals can you name that hatch from eggs as babies?
- How many animals can you name that have patterns on their bodies?
- How many animals can you name that eat leaves?
- How many animals can you name that live in the sea?
- How many insects can you name that have six legs?
- How many vehicles can you name with four wheels?
- How many things can you name that are cone shaped?
- How many things can you name that can fly?
2. I’m thinking of…: A simplified version of 20 questions, and somewhat easier than I Spy when on the move in the car, we start this game with a single object in mind and the phrase, “I am thinking of something ….,” and then name a feature or attribute of the object or thing. So it might begin, “I am thinking of something that is blue.” The other person is welcome to make a guess or ask for another clue and we go back and forth between clues and guesses until they work out the correct answer.
3. Guess who? We started playing this game when Immy was four and play it in much the same way as we do game #2 but focus on a storybook or movie character or an actual movie instead of an object.
4. Secret Message: This well known game is best played with a group of children from kindergarten age upwards. Everyone sits in a line or circle and the first person whispers a short message to the next person in line, with the message then being passed from person to person in whispers along the line or around the circle. The last person announces the message they have heard to the whole group and everyone has a good laugh at how the message had invariably changed as it has been passed along.
5. Sound tennis: Great for children who are learning initial sounds or blends (or even children who have mastered them), I have Immy’s pre-primary teacher to thank for this one. The players agree on an initial sound or blend, say ‘P,’ and then take turns back and forth, each saying a new word that begins with that sound, until the round comes to a finish when one player cannot think of a new word beginning with the nominated sound. We allow the other player, the ‘winner,’ to choose the new sound for the next round.
I would love to add to our game repertoire. What verbal games do you enjoy with your children?
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