A Guide to Word Games & Toys for Kids
Literacy Games Make a Fun & Educational Birthday or Christmas Gift
Oct 13, 2009
Although many kids toys seem geared toward technology nowadays, there is still a place for traditional games. Playing with word games and toys, for example, can be fun for a lot of kids and comes with a range of educational and developmental advantages.
Why are Word Games Good for Kids?
A lot of children don't like feeling that they are being made to learn outside the school environment. As soon as they get the idea that their parents are trying to teach them something, they switch off. One of the biggest benefits of word games and toys is that they are designed to be fun. Their educational advantages may, therefore, not be that obvious to the child.
But, if children are playing a word game then they will be learning at the same time, even if they don't realise it. As far as they are concerned they may simply be sitting down with their parents, siblings or friends and playing a fun game or with a fun toy. But, word games can specifically help with their:
- Vocabulary
- Spelling
- Understanding of language and its structure
There are games and toys here for all ages from toddlers through to teenagers.
Popular Word Games and Toys for Children
Although new games and toys come along all the time, there are some old favourites and traditional games that remain popular. These include:
- Flash cards/word puzzle games: Many children will play with flash cards and word puzzle games as their introduction to playing with words. A simple puzzle game that matches a picture with its name, for example, can be a lot of fun for young children and is an easy way of introducing them to the written language.
- Scrabble: Scrabble is perhaps the most famous traditional word game. Available in both junior and standard editions this can be a fantastic way of getting a child to enjoy learning about words and language whilst having fun.
- Boggle: Many children find that Boggle can help them develop their word recognition and building skills. The aim here is to find as many words as possible from the Boggle cube and to score more points by creating longer words.
- Rummikub Word: The aim of this game is to be the person that creates the longest words to win most points. Based on a simple concept, this game is a lot of fun for all the family.
- Bananagrams: This word game is kind of like a portable crossword that can be played anywhere by any age and ability. Here, players use their letters to build words, changing them as they go to get rid of their letters.
Bear in mind that word games may come with age recommendations. Some games may be too complex for younger children and others may be too easy for older ones so this may be worth considering before buying any games.
What About Online Word Games?
Word games can also be played online, often for free at a variety of sites. Children may also enjoy this an option as well as playing traditional board games. Again, the fun factor of the actual game play here may well hide the fact that they are learning at the same time!
Finally, those looking to buy traditional word games and toys may want to look at their options with online shopping and shopping comparison sites before making a purchase. This can be a good way of finding bargain prices, deals and offers. Parents may also want to consider using math games and toys in a similar way to boost their child's numeracy skills
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