How do you combine a lesson on fine motor skills, understanding emotions and vocabulary? Believe it or not, there is a way to do this…board games! Yes, they are fun, but they can also be educational. There are so many benefits of using board games in special education.
Spot it
Spot It is self defined as a game of visual perception. It strengthens observational skills and processing speed. This is a great game to use with students who are struggling with short attention spans or object identification. It can build vocabulary and it promotes generalization across topics and themes.
kerplunk
Kerplunk is an easy to learn game with very simple rules. This one works great even with your lower elementary babies. You can use it to teach colors or counting for those new learners. It is also a fine motor activity that can be combined with an OT goal. I even use it when discussing cause and effect with my students. Every move will have an outcome, whether positive or negative. This game is one that exhibits many benefits of using board games in special education.
trouble
I used to love to play the game of Trouble when I was a kid and it is still a favorite in my classroom. Trouble is all about being able to follow directions for my students. It is perfect when I need to work in a small group of 3-4 students. It can also help them with learning to take turns appropriately and with fine motor skills. As a teacher, one of my favorite things about Trouble is that you don’t lose pieces because they are built into the game board. This means that my students can play independently.
the sneaky, snacky squirrel
The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel game might not be one that you have heard of before, but your students will love this game. It covers fine motor skills with animal pinchers. There are great opportunities to learn social emotional skills, like accepting disappointment when you have to move backwards in the game and how to be patient waiting for your turn. This game also works on color recognition in a fun and engaging way. With so many different skills involved, you can see the many benefits of using board games in special education with this one.
frida’s fruit fiesta
My students love when Frida comes to visit and they get a chance to play Frida’s Fruit Fiesta. This board game is excellent for teaching letter recognition, a skill so many of our students need practice with. They can practice their matching skills and fine motor skills when playing this game. Frida’s Fruit Fiesta is also useful for learning that you don’t need to blurt out answers.
pop up pirate
Pop Up Pirate is played in my classroom at least once a week, if not multiple times a week. It is the absolute favorite for my students and I love the many benefits of using this board game in special education. This game is one of the best for improving fine motor skills. It also works on color recognition and cause and effect. It is fun to watch the anticipation build in my students each time they take their turn and see who will pop the pirate.
guess who
Another classroom favorite is Guess Who. This game works on both asking and answering YES/NO questions. My speech teacher loves when we play this game because it reinforces many of the skills she is working on with my students. It is also a reinforcer for noticing details and making deductions to find the correct answer.
q’s race to the top
As I have said, there are many benefits to using board games in special education. Q’s Race to the Top is another game that gives us so many of those benefits. This game is designed to improve social skills, better behavior and using good manners. It helps students with conversational skills, taking turns and has fun ways to get them up and moving.
Find One or Two to Try
If you are not already using board games in your classroom, I hope that you will find one or two that you think will make a difference for your students. There are many benefits to using board games in special education. The best benefit is that your students are having fun while they are learning! Which one will you try?
Want to know more?
Want to know more about board games in your classroom? Check Out These Amazon Games. Or maybe even other tips and ideas on making learning fun? Check out my blog and podcast to keep up with everything that is going on. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook to engage in a supportive community and ask for help. Don’t miss out on these special education resources for your organization, academics and social skills needs.
