There is a lot more to the discovery of new words than just rote spelling exercises. If you enjoy having family game nights every now and then, think about incorporating some word games into your routine. Not only are they fun, but they are educational, too! The following ideas will get you started so that you have a word game to play the next time your family is ready.
- It’s All About The Letters
The great thing about this game is that you can play it at home or on the go. All you need is a minimum of two people; no other accessories are required. First, come up with a category. For example, you might choose “colors” as your category. The first person begins by naming a color. The next player has to name another color, but it must begin with the last letter of the previous word. For example, if the first player says “green” the second player might say “navy blue.” It is best to pick a category that has a lot of possible words!
- Word Scrabble
I’m a big fan of Scrabble, but it isn’t a game that my children can play independently yet. Instead, we all enjoy a few rounds of “Word Scrabble.” You don’t need a board to play. Instead, pick out eight letters from a bag or a hat. Lay the letters down so that no one can see what is on them. Once everyone has their letters, set a timer and flip the letters over. Try to make as many words from your letters as you can in a few minutes in Scrabble Word Finder. The winner is the person who has the most unique words. If you want to get a leg up on others then use a word unscrambler such as the one found at https://unscramblex.com/
- Matching Vowels
If you have a list of spelling words that your child needs to study, put them all on a few slips of paper. Turn the words over so they cannot be seen. Have players flip over two words at a time. If the words both have either a long vowel sound or a short vowel sound, the player gets to keep the words. If they do not, the words have to be flipped back over and it is then the next person’s turn.
- Spelling Bee
Just like you used to have spelling bees at school, you can host an at-home version for your family! One person calls out words. The players take turns spelling the words. Once someone misses a word, they are out of the game. The nice thing about this game is that you can adapt it to the ages of the players; call easy words for younger children and hard words for older children.
- Reverse Spelling
Once your kids get a little older, try out a game of reverse spelling. Going in order, each person names a letter. The trick is that the letters need to have the possibility of forming a word without actually forming one. You get a point if you complete a word or if you add a letter that makes it impossible to make a word. Once you reach a predetermined number of points, you can’t play any more.