Language Games
Language games teach so much more than any vocabulary workbook. The principle in them is to play with words, to examine them in new contexts, and to dredge them out into the light of day from deep within the human mind. Games are light, energy-providing, and absorbing. They make a meaningful part of any homeschool routine and ought to be included on a regular basis.
The classic games still work!
- Scrabble (Words with Friends app)
- Crossword Puzzles
- Word Searches
Today, though, there are a huge variety of games that are both board or card versions, as well as online games.
Our family favorite is “Spinergy" (affilliate link). This game is built around a freewriting principle. You’re given three words to use in the creation of a short ad, aria, slogan, invitation, marriage proposal, tall tale (or some other writing form) while an egg timer runs. The resulting pieces of writing are often a hoot! The game provides for a way to win or lose, but it's not necessary to play that way. The game can simply be a source of endless freewriting prompts, too
Play with words. Make puns, rhymes, riddles, and jokes. Kids bond to language especially when it’s funny or punny!
More language games worth purchasing
- Quiddler (Shown above: card game that challenges spelling skill!)
- Scattergories
- Apples to Apples
- Taboo
- Boggle
- Catch Phrase
- Spinergy
- Balderdash
- Fictionary
- Loaded Questions
- Outburst
- Cranium
- Guess Who
For Julie's hand-lettered Language Games PDF sign up here.