This post is going to focus on how you can use common games to help develop your child’s communication skills. Today’s blog is focused on the game Uno! This is a game that most people know how to play that is fun and can involve many players. Have a look at how Uno can support your child’s communication skills:
Vocabulary
- Increase vocabulary by naming all cards put down (colour + number/action)
- Vocabulary includes numbers 0 to 9, colours, skip, reverse, wild, draw 2 and draw 4 cards
Expressive language
- Encourage your child to explain the rules to you – your child will use long sentences with conjunctions (e.g. and, then, after), and conditional words (e.g. if)
- Answering questions – ask your child who's next or what card you can put down
- Saying Uno when down to 1 card
Understanding language
- Your child will need to learn the rules of the game: break parts of the game to manageable steps
- You may want to write down some rules (e.g. you can’t put down the cards you pick up when you have a draw 2 or 4 card)
- Remind the players what each action card means and how to end your turn
Literacy
- Recognise numbers and symbols for action cards
Social skills
- You can model appropriate play skills – e.g. winning/losing statements, turn taking
- You can also model inappropriate play skills and allow your child to see what this looks like and to correct your behaviour – e.g. cheating, big reactions to losing
- Remembering rules and following them – remind your child about certain Uno rules and to follow them while playing
- If your child demonstrates inappropriate play skills, talk through the possible consequences of these behaviours (e.g. if you scream after losing, others won’t want to play with you again)
- Use emotional regulation strategies if emotions become heightened to help calm your child before talking through the possible consequences of these behaviours
- Discuss strategies your child can use to calm down when playing games
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