Language Games: Children Learn How To Use Language
“I see something you don’t see, and that’s…” The well-known search game not only helps with boredom: by naming their surroundings.
Children also develop an understanding of language and vocabulary. There is a wide variety of games to promote and build language skills.
While rigorous exercises and tasks often become too monotonous for children, language games bring joy to the little ones.
Speech and language games combine fun with an effective learning gain – a real advantage.
Language Games: How They Are Fun For Children And At The Same Time Support Them
Children find exciting activities in different ways that inspire them in everyday life.
With their thriving imagination, the children come up with unprecedented ideas and sometimes come up with their games.
It is not uncommon for their environment to be transformed into a fantasy world in which the children experience colorful adventures.
Children always want to play a new round of a game they are particularly fond of. There’s no question about it: when playing, children show stamina.
Adults can use this motivation and energy to encourage children.
Different areas of education and development goals can be built up and supported through targeted practice.
Through the playful approach, children stay focused and get involved in the various exercises.
One area that educators and educational professionals significantly shape is language.
Communication with other children and adults is essential for children from birth.
Over time, the ability to exchange becomes more and more critical. For this reason, games to promote language are an integral part of day-to-day daycare.
When Are Language And Word Games Used?
Language development in children begins before birth. Even in the womb, the child hears the mother’s voice and thus also a specific language.
Here, for example, the emphasis on words and the speech melody plays an important role.
Children learn words and the ability to express themselves later.
At about one and a half years, most children start to develop their vocabulary.
Then the children know more than 50 words (colloquial terms, furnishings, animals) and can often name many objects and express needs.
They learn new terms even faster, laying the foundation for a broad vocabulary.
Because: Language is created in exchange. In every phase of language development and language education, the parents and educators of the children play a crucial role.
With the support of the adults, the children learn, for example, what particular objects are called.
They also learn about social relationships through speaking.
They find out who they are and who the others are, among other things, through linguistic classification.
Develop And Promote Language
When it comes to language development, various aspects are relevant.
In general, it is good to know that there are different phases of language development that every healthy child goes through.
How long each phase lasts differs from person to person. Therefore: Look at the development of each girl and boy individually.
In any case, it is clear that the children need communication with caregivers to expand their language and vocabulary.
Adults often show children intuitively and thus unconsciously how language works.
The children learn new words and sentence structures by hearing about conversations between adults.
Educators and parents can help the children develop their language further by using supportive language in direct contact with children.
Correcting incorrect phrasing and rearranging sentences will show how the language is constructed.
Language games play a unique role. They teach children relaxed how language works and how it is used.
Discover Language And Speech Disorders: Language Games As Support
Playful speaking exercises can be easily integrated into regular daycare.
With the help of language games, it is possible to teach children language and vocabulary without consciously realizing it.
Children learn new words, phrases, and sentence structures this way.
At the same time, language games have another advantage: while the children are playing and exchanging ideas with their playmates, educators may notice language or speech disorders.
Especially when the children have to pronounce different and complex words, abnormalities may appear. Early detection of such disorders increases the chance of getting them under control.
In general, different forms of the disorders can be distinguished: In addition to problems with pronunciation, some children have difficulties in formulating sentences or in the correct assignment of words.
The causes of language and speech disorders can be very different. The abnormalities are often only temporary and are part of the development.
In other cases, the reason for the difficulties can also be physical. In any case, it is worth keeping a closer eye on the child over a longer period of time.
Puns: Act-On Language And Speech Disorders
Since the disorders affect very different areas, it also makes sense to assign a particular abnormality.
- Is it a problem of language discovery or language comprehension?
- Is the problem limited to the child’s vocabulary or grammatical understanding?
Difficulties can also occur when speaking or listening.
The right tasks and exercises can be selected depending on the problem. These are not only used to recognize the anomalies but also to train the language.
If necessary, it is also advisable to have the child in question examined by a doctor.
A physical cause should be ruled out or treated. Under certain circumstances, logopedic therapy is also beneficial.
The exchange with the parents of the child is fundamental here.
How Language Games Help Children
Through language games, children can get to know and acquire the different facets of a language. The various games and exercises teach skills that children need to use language correctly.
If, for example, it is a game in which pictures have to be assigned to specific terms, the children also learn this connection for their use of language.
The playful structure keeps the children’s concentration longer. It is also essential to answer the children’s questions.
Adult feedback not only helps children to understand contexts, words, letters, and sentences while playing but also otherwise.
This expands their understanding and their ability to find new formulations themselves. This also prepares the children for association tasks at school.
What Language Games Are There?
There is a large selection of language development games. To avoid confusing the children, it can make sense to focus on specific content.
Language Games With Sounds
For example, sounds can be used as the subject of a game session.
The children can then work on various puzzles, games, and exercises on a topic and thus gain a comprehensive understanding of it.
For example, word games with nursery rhymes are suitable for the subject of sounds. Fingerplays can be mentioned here as an example.
These can be combined well with rhymes and stay in the children’s memory:
That’s the father, kind and good,
that’s the mother with the feather hat,
that’s the brother, strong and tall,
that’s the sister with the little doll on her lap,
that’s the youngest child
and that’s supposed to be the whole family.
Show the children how to finger play. The rhymes keep the sounds in the children’s minds, and they get a concrete picture of the sounds and their use. In this way, they remember what they have learned even better.
Expand Vocabulary: Language Games For Preschoolers
Other language games are more suitable if it is less about learning specific sounds and more about training the ability to associate.
For preschool children, the game “everything to eat” can be a genuine guarantee of fun. However, the children must be already familiar with the ABC and the corresponding initial sounds of a word.
As a pedagogical specialist, you can take on the role of the game master. Either you name a child who is mentally counting through the ABCs – similar to city, country, or river.
If the children are not ready, you can choose the letter yourself.
For example, if you say “A,” the children have to take turns naming different terms related to the topic “food.” Possible answers would be “an apple,” “pineapple,” or “apple strudel.”
As soon as the children run out of ideas, a new letter is “worked through.” This game can also be extended to other subject areas.
Instead of meals, the language game could also be changed to “All things in kindergarten” or “Everything at home.”
Variations ensure fun and variety in the kindergarten group.
Of course, the well-known game “I’m packing my suitcase” also offers potential for use with preschool children.
The advantage: Here, the children train not only their language but also their memory and their ability to concentrate.
The game “What’s the name of the animal?” is another option to increase vocabulary.
The game master thinks of an animal, and the children ask questions. Ultimately, the aim is for the children to apply their knowledge and find out which animal the game master has thought up by asking specific questions.
Funny Language Games For Kids
Language Game: Nonsense Poem by Edward Lear
Children love nonsense and imaginary words. With the witch Walburga Wackelzahn and her funny magic spells, you can take advantage of the children’s motivation and desire.
The numerous nonsense words that appear in the poem promote the joy of speaking and oral motor skills. Coupled with movement, the children learn even more sustainably.
Language Game: “Who finds the wrong word?“
There were all sorts of colorful fellows to marvel at Shrove Tuesday and Carnival. Clowns, goblins, knights, fairies, magicians, and all carnival jesters cheer and dance through the aisles.
Today there is a puzzle game as an obituary. The children have to find the word that does not fit in the sequence of words from the foolish subject area.
Language Game: “When I think of vacation, I think of…“
Today you will play a great language game with the children. This game serves to expand vocabulary and is a lot of fun at the same time.
The game can be played in a circle but also in small groups. To the educational offer
Use Of Classic Language Games In Daycare
There are often children who learn quickly and others who need a little more time.
Educators should pay close attention to how the dynamics develop in the group.
If stronger children are drowning out weaker children, you may want to intervene.
On the one hand, the children’s self-esteem otherwise falls. On the other hand, the children can be brought back to a similar level through individual support.
Depending on the capacity and workload in the kindergarten, the children can be supported individually or in a group.
It is important to convey to the children that they must treat their fellow players with respect. This is the only way for everyone to feel comfortable and enjoy the game.
As a game leader, you may even be able to teach the children to support each other. Depending on the age of the children, very different game ideas can be implemented.
- Guess letters
- Say the alphabet
- Put the syllables in the right order
- Specify nonsense that must not be said
Games with language can be designed creatively. A melody can be combined well with certain words and associations.
If you would like to teach the children the alphabet as a game leader, you can sing an ABC song together with the children, for example.
It can also be exciting for preschoolers to draw or even write on a blackboard. Writing their own name also makes the children proud.
Try different ways to see what motivates the children. Core elements of language games can be easily varied and reworked again and again.
Integrate Into Everyday Life: Learning At Home With Language Games
In order to integrate the games into everyday life and practice them regularly, the parents should also be involved in language support.
In kindergarten, the children learn to deal with several other players and to learn together. At home, they can be given even more individual support.
Educate parents about different ways to practice the language.
Language games can be effectively integrated into existing rituals in particular.
When reading a bedtime story, it makes sense for parents to let their children add words, for example.
Games such as city-country-river can be played in their spare time in kindergarten and the family. New words are learned, and basic knowledge is expanded.
Other language games for at home are also suitable:
- Make the first letters of names
- Let animals and people speak in the game
- Read stories
There are many different options and ways of teaching language to children.
In any case, adults should encourage children to speak for themselves. Be it with small figures, stuffed animals, or stories.
Because when children let their imagination run wild, they often start telling stories. Language can also play a role in painting or handicrafts.
Drawing and cutting out letters from the name promotes the children ‘s motor skills and language understanding.
Also, read 3 Minute Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test.
What To Do If You Lose Concentration?
Dealing with language and learning new words and sentence structures requires concentration. The children like to bring these up for the games if they enjoy it.
However, after a certain period of time, the children’s motivation and focus wanes. That’s perfectly normal. But language games can also become exhausting for children in the long run.
In most cases, it is then time to move. Because after physical activity, the children can concentrate better again.
At best, you have an outdoor area where the children can let off steam. Here, movement games are a good option to ensure a balance between physical and mental exertion.
For example, have the children form a circle and hold hands. Then one of the children has to run around the circle, tap another person and let them catch them in the race around the circle. There are many possibilities, and these types of breaks are essential.