Games have been keeping us busy for as long as we can remember. But did you know that some of the old favourites are great for dyslexic learners? Dyslexia-friendly games offer an incredible opportunity to boost vocabulary, improve spelling and sharpen decision-making skills – among many other benefits.
As we head into the festive season, let’s dive into this month’s blog, where we’re sharing our top traditional games to enjoy with your child.
Discover what makes these games dyslexia-friendly and get inspired with a few holiday-themed ideas that your child will love!
About Dyslexia
In the UK, one in ten people is dyslexic. And of these, 80% have left school without a diagnosis. As the British Dyslexia Association urges to #shareyourstory, we are joining them in sharing our knowledge to raise awareness of dyslexia and its signs, so that individuals can receive the support they need to flourish.
Dyslexia-friendly games
Dominoes
Dominoes have been spicing up game nights since the 18th century. Whether you match numbers at the open ends to build an impressive train of tiles or set them up for a dramatic chain reaction, this game never gets old!
It’s a fun and relaxing game; dominoes also give your brain a good workout. They boost cognitive processes and visual processing skills, sharpen memory, and enhance visual discrimination.
Dominoes aren’t always the classic black squares with white dots. They come in various forms—numbers, shapes, pictures, or even themed around your favourite subjects. The common thread? It’s all about matching!
So, gather your friends and family and make some domino magic happen!
Why not make your own dyslexia-friendly dominoes this Christmas? Here’s something we’d suggest: Domino Templates and Domino Maker
Articulate
A Christmas favourite is Articulate, a fun game describing words from six categories (Object, Nature, Random, Person, Action and World) within 30 seconds.
Articulate is a great dyslexia-friendly game because it focuses on verbal descriptions, helping to enhance verbal expression and fluency.
Since the game is based on spoken words, it doesn’t rely on text, making it easier for dyslexic players. It also boosts vocabulary skills and, with its time-pressured nature, encourages quick thinking and decision-making, thereby building cognitive flexibility and processing speed.
In short, Articulate is a fun and engaging way to keep everyone entertained while learning at the same time! Suitable for ages 12 and up, with a special Articulate for Kids version available for ages 6 and older.
Available from https://amzn.eu/d/fGwKd5B
Anagram Scramble
This game can be played anywhere and is also accessible as an App. Take a few letters that spell a word and scramble them for a new word e.g. ELVIS to LIVES.
Select to find words that start with L, end with S or are 5 letters long. This dyslexia-friendly game challenges players’ spelling skills, phonological awareness and ability to decode letters into words.
Guess Who?
Say goodbye to the classic faces! This beloved game now features everything from football players to Mario Brothers characters. Each player grabs a card with a face and uses the process of elimination to guess who it is.
Not only is it a blast, but it also hones visual processing skills, decision making and listening skills.
Get ready for some fun and learning rolled into one with the new, revamped Guess Who? game!
Age: 6+
Available from https://amzn.eu/d/4woUUm8
Boggle
Get ready to race against the clock with Boggle! In this word cube game, players use a grid (ranging from 4×4 to 6×6) to create as many words as they can before time runs out. It’s perfect for both travel and home play, offering endless entertainment around the table.
Dyslexic learners can practice forming new words, helping to build their vocabulary. Regular play also helps them to improve spelling skills and with Boggle’s time-limiting feature, players need to think quickly – helping to develop cognitive processing speed.
It’s a high-energy game that makes learning fun and engaging.
Available from https://amzn.eu/d/4sew2Lb
What makes a game dyslexia-friendly?
For dyslexic learners, games offer the opportunity to practice and improve key skills such as phonological awareness, cognitive ability, quick thinking, and decision-making.
Gather your friends and family, and enjoy games that aren’t just fun, but educational as well.
About Dyslexia First
Dyslexia First provides first-class dyslexia assessments for children and adults across the North West.
Owner Michala Morton has worked in the field of Special Needs for over 20 years, across a wide range of educational settings, and works closely with The British Dyslexia Association and The Dyslexia Association assessing children and adults.
Based in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, Dyslexia First is conveniently accessible by train, linking to Central Liverpool, Manchester and cities within an hour’s commute.
By helping you to get the right support, a world of possibilities will open, that might not have seemed possible before.
Contact us to discuss your assessment needs at michala@dyslexia-first.co.uk or call 07711 904 589.
