Language Games 4 Children

There are many fun language-learning games that you can play with children to help them learn a new language or improve their language skills. Here are a few ideas:

1. Word Association: Choose a category, such as animals, food, or transportation, and have your child say a word in the target language. Then, you say a word in the target language that is related to the first word. For example, if the category is animals and your child says “dog” in the target language, you might say “cat.” Take turns saying related words until one person can’t think of a new word.
2. Hangman: Write a word in the target language on a piece of paper and have your child try to guess the letters by saying them in the target language. If they guess correctly, write the letter on the paper. If they guess incorrectly, draw a part of a stick figure “hanging” from a gallows. The goal is to guess the word before the stick figure is complete.
3. Simon Says: Give your child instructions in the target language, such as “Simon says touch your nose” or “Simon says hop on one foot.” Have your child follow the instructions if you say “Simon says,” but not if you just say the instruction without “Simon says.”
4. Word Scavenger Hunt: Make a list of words in the target language and hide them around the house or yard. Have your child find the words and bring them back to you. You can then practice saying the words together and talking about what they mean.
5. Word Match: Write a list of words in the target language on one side of a sheet of paper and their translations on the other side. Cut the paper into strips and mix them up. Have your child match the words and translations by laying the strips next to each other.
6. Storytelling: Have your child tell a story in the target language, using vocabulary and grammar they have learned. You can help them by providing prompts or asking questions to encourage them to use the language.
7. Charades: Choose words or phrases in the target language and have your child act them out for you to guess. You can take turns acting out words or phrases for each other.
8. Word Association: Choose a category, such as animals, food, or transportation, and have your child say a word in the target language. Then, you say a word in the target language that is related to the first word. For example, if the category is animals and your child says “dog” in the target language, you might say “cat.” Take turns saying related words until one person can’t think of a new word.
9. Hangman: Write a word in the target language on a piece of paper and have your child try to guess the letters by saying them in the target language. If they guess correctly, write the letter on the paper. If they guess incorrectly, draw a part of a stick figure “hanging” from a gallows. The goal is to guess the word before the stick figure is complete.
10. Pictionary: Draw a picture or object in the target language and have your child guess what it is by saying the word in the target language. You can take turns drawing and guessing.

There are also a number of fun games that involve Total Physical Response. An approach very much suited for children, getting them out of their chairs and being physically active.

TPR is a language teaching method developed by James Asher that involves using physical movements to respond to language input. It is based on the idea that the human brain is better able to acquire and retain language when it is connected to physical actions. Here are some examples of TPR activities that can be used in a language classroom:

1. Simon Says: This is a classic game that can be adapted for language learning. The teacher gives commands in the target language (e.g. “Simon says touch your nose”), and the students respond by performing the action.
2. Action Storytelling: The teacher tells a story and incorporates physical actions for the students to perform. For example, if the story includes a character running, the students could run in place.
3. Miming: The teacher demonstrates a physical action or object, and the students try to guess what it is.
4. Body Parts: The teacher points to different body parts and says their names in the target language, and the students touch the body parts.
5. Gestures: The teacher shows a series of gestures and the students try to guess the corresponding words in the target language.
6. Follow the Leader: The teacher performs a series of physical actions and the students follow along.
7. TPR Word Association: The teacher says a word in the target language and the students perform a physical action that is associated with the word. For example, if the word is “swim,” the students could pretend to swim in place.

These are just a few ideas for language learning games that you can play with children. The key is to make it fun and interactive, and to provide plenty of opportunities for your child to practice speaking and listening in the target language.