A recent article in the Washington Post discussed how board games reinforce lessons in the classroom. Board games require children to think strategically and attach abstract thoughts to concrete objects. There are plenty of board games that can reinforce skills learned in the classroom:
- Candyland
– provides lessons in color recognition and counting
- Chutes and Ladders
– exposes children to the concept of numbers
- Uno Card Game
– teaches number and color recognition, sorting skills and strategic thinking
- Memory – Parents and teachers can create custom Memory games that teach recognition of letters and numbers, sight words, and color words
- Bingo – Parents and teachers can create custom Bingo games that teach letters, shapes, sight words, and rhyming words
**View my recent post, Sight Word Games for Your Young Child, to see more on Sight Word Memory and Bingo.**
Board games are hands-on and fun, and provide learning opportunities at the same time. In addition to the board games listed above, there are also several literacy-based board game options. These games provide children an opportunity to learn literacy skills while having fun! A few games to consider:
LeapFrog Letter Factory Board Game
This game is a perfect complement to Fridge Phonics and the Letter Factory video, both by Leap Frog as well. I absolutely love Leap Frog products. They are educational and fun! Many times kids are learning and don’t know it, because they are having fun. The Letter Factory Game guides children with actions, music, and more. Children match colors and letters. No reading is required. The game automatically adjusts to individual skill levels, so children can learn at their own pace. It’s easy enough (and fun enough!) that my six year old will still play it with my three year old – when they are getting along!
University Games Brown Bear-Panda Bear, What Do You See? Game
Based on Eric Carle’s children’s books, “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” and “Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?,” this hybrid game, Brown Bear, Panda Bear What Do You See? introduces children to story creation and aids in memory and sequencing skills. Children find animal cards in sequence and recite the story they created. After players find all the animal cards needed for their sequence, they recite the popular Eric Carle stories they created. No reading necessary!
University Games Super Why ABC Letter Preschool Game
Based on the PBS cartoon, Super Why, children practice key reading skills by taking on the powers of the Super Why team. Children build reading skills by identifying letters, rhyming, correct silly sentences, and learn how to read basic words. The game is touted for 3 and up, but I think that it may be too difficult for your average three year old and possibly four year old. It’s a fantastic game for pre-readers, but your child should be able to read words in order to feel successful at this game.
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