Word games help kids in several ways. They enhance their vocabulary and increase their skills of recognition. If you want to instill a love for reading in children, introducing them to word games early can help.
Teachers also play word games in the classroom to help children learn spelling. It also allows kids to remember grammar rules. All this is achieved in a fun way, where kids remain entertained throughout.
Here are 9 effective word games for students that teachers recommend.
1. Unscramble the Words
Create a list of 10 words. But don’t spell them correctly. Challenge the student to unscramble them into meaningful words. You can increase the difficulty level by mixing up the letters of long words. If the child finds it difficult to unscramble, let them use a tool to unscramble the words.
A tool such as Word Finder helps students to effectively rearrange letters. They can input the letters they find difficult to unscramble, and the Word Finder shows them meaningful words out of those letters. With its help, they can mold any combination of letters and win at word games. Not only that, but they also learn about many new words in this process.
2. Family Word Game
Choose a word and ask the other kids to write words that rhyme with that word. For example, if you choose ‘rat’, children can write ‘sat’, ‘bat,’ ‘mat,’ etc. The game is suitable for young and old kids. For older students, choose a longer word, such as ‘duckling.’
This is one of those word games for children that effectively increases their vocabulary. It also helps students think critically to come up with meaningful words.
3. The Minister’s Cat
The first person begins by describing the minister’s cat with an adjective of their choice. However, it should start with the letter ‘A.’ The next student will also describe the cat but with an adjective starting with ‘B.’
The Minister’s Cat is not only a word game. It is also a memory game. Students need to remember all the adjectives that those before them have added to describe the cat.
4. Bingo Word Game
On a page, create a square grid. Now, select a theme. Write a few words within the theme. For example, sweets: desserts, pastries, chocolates, etc. Make a copy of the words and cut them into squares. Now, scrunch them up and put them in a bowl. Students should pull out a word, read it, and find it on your page. The one who finds all the words first shouts Bingo. They are the winners.
5. Search for Words
This is one of those challenging yet fun word games for children. On a grid of 10×10 squares, put as many words as possible. Make a list of the words you’ve made. If you cannot fill more boxes with words, fill them with random letters. Children need to find all the words as quickly as they can.
6. Hink Pink Rhyming Word Puzzles
In this game, one student comes up with a two-word rhyme. They give a two-word description. The other students need to guess the ‘Hink Pink.’ For example, ‘irritated boy.’ The other will say, ‘mad lad.’
If children face problems, make a list of pink pinks on separate paper slips. Now, put them in a jar. Players can take them out when their turn comes.
7. Words Within A Word
This is one of the word games for children in the younger age group. Choose a long word and tell the kids to make small words out of them. For example, if you choose the word ‘computer,’ children can make various words out of it, such as ‘top, ‘core, ‘cot,’ and the like. The longer the word, the better it will be. Such a word will allow kids to create more words.
8. The Synonym Game
Start by giving a list of words to the kids. Provide at least five to ten words. Children need to write a word that has a similar meaning to every word. This game is beneficial for enhancing the vocabulary of children. To make it more exciting, set a timer for ten minutes.
9. Complete The Story
In this game, the first student begins a story by creating a sentence. The next student continues the tale by adding their own sentence. This is an interesting game as every student puts their own ideas into the story. It increases their imagination. The game also boosts memory skills as every student needs to remember what the person before them has said.
Summing up
This was a roundup of some of the best word games for children. All of them work to improve language skills and increase quick thinking among students. You can choose a game as per the age of your children. Alternatively, adjust the game to suit the level of different age groups.