Target For The Win!
I’m always on the look out for inexpensive materials for speech therapy. Many times I have to get creative! But sometimes the goodness is just staring at me on the shelf! Here are 3 board games I found recently in the dollar section at Target. These games were just $3 each and I know I will get so much use out of them.
Who Am I? Animals:
This game is similar to Headbands, in that each child has a pair of glasses that you attach an animal card to. The child the asks questions to guess which animal they are. This game can be super tricky for kids with language delays. Asking questions, inferencing, memory, qualitative concepts… all at once. I usually take off the pressure by not playing with the timer. Another way we can lighten the mental load is by making a ‘cheat sheet’ that lists or pictures all the possible animals. Giving the child visual choices helps keep them focused and can help organize their thoughts.
Princess Adventures:
This game is open ended as far as therapy goes. Each princess is tries to reach the castle first by spinning a spinner and following instructions on each square (loose a turn, go back a space, move ahead). Typical board game. But what 6 year old girl isn’t motivated by princesses? This game can also be played by spinning a color or moving a certain number of spaces. So, colors. Check. But we can also use this game to work on any other skill. Answer a question, say a speech sound, describe one of the princesses. The sky is the limit with this one.
Cookie Bake Off:
This one is fun for both boys and girls! In this game, each child has a bowl with a cookie recipe on it. Spin the spinner to collect all the ingredients. The added layer is each recipe is a little different and you only need one of each ingredient. Children must follow directions, take turns, be visually organized (what do I have, what do I need) and know some kitchen/ baking vocabulary. There’s also a dreaded LOSE A TURN that can help with social skills. After this game maybe bake some real cookies!
What are your bests finds at the Target Dollar Spot?
