Technology has become one of the basic parts of our everyday lives. Devices are used for business, communication, travel, learning, and almost everything we do.
Two of the most common technology usages are learning and having fun. This is especially important when it comes to children. Kids are more likely to engage in learning when it is considered a game. Computers are brought into classrooms in order to make learning easier and more fun. And the most important thing is – it is working. Animated characters, vivid colors, and effects attract their attention and keep them interested.
Introduce word games to your youngsters because this interactive way of learning can vastly improve their vocabulary, creativity, and overall language skills. If your child is a bit older, you can introduce them to these games with a tool for word unscrambling that will make it easier for them to improve.
1. Hangman
Remember when you used to play this game at school with only a piece of paper and a pen? Well, this classic is now in digital form. Test and improve spelling skills on different levels and topics.
Words are divided into categories such as sports, clothes, transportation, colors, animals, fruits, etc. First, you have to go through simple levels with simple, short words. As levels go by, words will become longer and more complicated.
The best way to start is with common vocals since every word has some of them. If your letter is not contained in the word, the hangman will slowly start to appear. Make sure to find the solution before the complete figure is drawn.
2. Scrabble Challenge
Scrabble Challenge is great for learning new words and concepts because it focuses on words that are made of two other words. For example cup and cake, light and house, rain and bow, etc. There are many similar examples in the English language and this game will provide many new things to learn for the ones who are at the beginning of their life journey.
The player is able to see two pictures and should come up with verbal solutions for each. Together they will create a whole new word that may have a similar or completely different context.
It can also be fun to play this game as an adult. You could have a completely different look at certain words and realize you never thought about the way words are created.
3. Wordsearch
This game may seem very simple at first. You have a list of all of the words you need to find among the columns of letters. But it can become tricky since all of the letters next to one another can be confusing and words could be placed in straight lines, up and down, forward or backward, or diagonal.
Wordsearch demands concentration to even begin with because you can easily get lost. You have to be careful that the spelling of the word is proper. It is good to come up with a strategy.
For example, look for two letters that stand together in your word and focus on finding them in the columns.
It would be interesting to see the way kids think when approaching a puzzle like this one.
Also, listed words are in the same category or have something in common. This is why this game is good for learning new words and their meaning and usage at the same time.
4. Bananagrams
The point of this game is to create your own crossword. It consists of tiles of single letters that need to be placed in order to create a meaningful word.
The great thing about this game is that it can be played in a lot of different ways. Younger kids can start simply and then progress to more difficult levels along with age and knowledge. Or simply skip the basics if your kid already understands the fundamentals of vocabulary.
Simple games could be to ‘write’ your name, colors, animals, and other basic words using tiles. More advanced tasks could be to create words that intersect with one another and have letters in common.
The beauty of this game is in its freedom. It can be a great creativity booster since you choose the rules.
5. Words That Rhyme
As the title says – a word about rhyming words. This one is good for younger children and kindergartners. This game builds a strong phonic base with children at this age since they learn to recognize letters that sound the same or similar. It helps with proper pronunciation and spelling since they are both seeing the letters and hearing sounds.
The interface and the game are simple. There are three pairs of words that rhyme on the screen, and they have to be connected to one another by simply clicking on them. Rhymes are interesting for kids, they are catchy and usually used in songs. They are something kids are already familiar with, but this game will help them understand the concept of rhyme and word connection.