Activities that involve playing with words, language and vocabulary can be fun.
Whether these games are being played by children or adults, physically or digitally, they can offer total exhilaration.
Beyond the giggles and laughter that word games offer when carried out in groups, they stir up positive emotions and bring people together.
In a meeting recently, the ice breaker after a period of sitting and focused concentration was a word game where participants were supposed to mention words ending with …tion, …ment, etc.
Even though this game of word association was in itself mentally taxing, it was engaging. It brought back memories of the word search and crossword puzzles that were the prized contents of many children’s magazines, including the Playpen, in the early 90s.
Homework from school included forming as many new words as possible from a single given word.
Figuring out new words in an effort to solve or decode an anagram, participating in word trivia, or word-building games are all powerful ways of expanding vocabulary, fostering creativity and enhancing cognitive skills.
The smart use of language, such as puns, critical thinking and problem-solving, can improve literacy tremendously.
It takes games such as Scrabble and Boggle to stretch one’s vocabulary because these games can expose a person to certain weird alphabet combinations known as Scrabble words.
The interesting part is how some of these Scrabble words are actually dictionary words with well-defined meanings.
“When children play with words, they’re also playing with the building blocks of the brain.” UnknownAs children play some word games, they are actually practising reading without even realising it.
Before a child can become a confident reader, it is important that they recognise letters and their sounds, understand word families (such as cat, hat, bat…) and develop comprehension skills.
They build these skills through word games that require them to unscramble sentences, for instance.
Games that focus on forming or rearranging letters help children become better spellers.
This is why parents and caregivers must encourage their children to participate in Spelling Bee competitions when they get the opportunity.
The children are compelled to train themselves to notice patterns, remember spellings, and the result is enhanced writing skills.
In all these games, the brain is actively challenged to strategise and to think critically.
Word games that are played in groups encourage patience and turn-taking, teamwork and communication, and eventually boost the confidence of the child.
From the age of two, toddlers can start playing with alphabet puzzles, picture-word matching and rhyming games.
Challenge the pre-schoolers (4-5 year olds) with “I spy”, rhyming riddles and name-that-letter games.
For six years, Scrabble, Boggle and all such word puzzles can be made a routine for children during weekends, dinner, before bedtime or during car rides.
Beyond the routine, parents and caregivers must be consistent and positive in partaking in these activities with their children as part of quality time spent together.
These games spark curiosity while creating fun.
Consistent engagement of young minds in word games is the secret to the development of lifelong literacy skills.
The Writer is a Child development expert/ Fellow of the Zero-To-Three Academy, USA.
E-mail: nanaesi.gaisie@wellchildhaven.com
