Board Games
WHAT WILL YOUR CHILD LEARN PLAYING THESE GAMES? ...more
General Learning Goals
to intentionally interact and communicate for more reasons, with more success, and with more pleasure
to communicate using words, gestures, eye-gaze, facial expressions and body language
to imitate what others do including actions, words, melody of voice, and personal style
to enjoy playing and interacting with others for longer periods of time
Managing Attention
to shift attention rapidly between people and the game board
to pay attention when routines change
to be increasingly aware of what a play partner is looking at, doing, feeling, and trying to accomplish
Initiating and Making Choices
to make a choice between two or more options when provided with pictures and/or given a verbal choice
to initiate games with actions, words, or pictures
to choose between two or more options
Communication
to understand and use nonverbal gestures such as head shakes and nods
to request with words, gestures, pictures, or eye gaze
to tell others what to do with words
to comprehend & follow verbal directions
to complain playfully
to congratulate
to commisurate
Managing Emotions
learning to lose with good sportsmanship
learning to win with good sportsmanship
Cooperation
to follow rules in games
to take turns
to allow others to share control of materials
Play
to play with others in highly structured routines
to strategize in games
When your child has sentence level language skills, and can take turns, then board games may be a perfect medium for learning social skills. Board games are predictable in many ways--everyone learns and follows the same rules, players all play in a mostly predictable way. The child with ASD can learn how to play the game itself and while playing, learn the scripted language one says in this social setting, e.g. GOOD MOVE!, OH NUTS!, THAT WAS LUCKY!, I AM IN TROUBLE NOW! I CAN'T BELIVE I JUST DID THAT!, DON'T WORRY, YOUR LUCK MAY CHANGE. THANK YOU FOR A GOOD GAME and so on. Teaching a child to say encouraging things, self-depreciating things, polite things, and funny things during a board game will help that child be on equal footing socially and a welcome participant in a group that enjoys boardgames.
Peaceable Kingdom Monkey Around Game
There is no winning and losing in this game, just taking turns!
Bunny Hop
Video Model for introducing the Bunny Hop Game using the word "Dud" for bunnies that do not spring up. This word, "Dud" is very useful to use in other situations where something does not work as expected. The game can gradually be played in a variety of other ways, including as designed by the game designers. However, it can be used for children with ASD or language disorders to teach color words, turn-taking, counting, and, with the word "Dud" being helpful--learning to stay calm when something does not work.
Bunny Hop is a great early board game to teach children because it is so easy to simplify the rules and change the focus of this game as desired. For example, you can start out with less pieces for a child who does not know much about taking turns with game pieces. If your child is impulsive and likes excitement, you can keep the farmer pieces tucked away until the very end after all the bunnies are placed and then give the child one farmer piece to put on and push down. The farmer which will make all the bunnies (except the duds) pop up and out of the game and this explosion will be exciting.
Photo from Amazon, where this game is sold.
SCAVENGER HUNT GAME: FIND AND SEEK
Both scavenger hunts and treasure hunts are favorites for people of all ages but they require a lot of set-up to make on your own. Also, for a child with ASD, these games may need added structure to 1) make sense 2) not feel overwhelming. This board game version is a bit of a hybrid because it still has elements of moving around the home or an area outside but it has many parts of the game already created. Each time the game is played, just having the same materials involved will make it feel structured. An adult needs to be involved in setting this game up and can also set the level of difficult in the clues that are used to find the treasure. Great game!
Guess Who?
The game requires that children understand categories like "People with red hair". And, this game is easier to learn to play with a grown-up or older siblings on your child's team. This video (and this youtube channel) is useful also in helping your child understand how children play games.
Photo from GeekHobbies.com, where you can read a good article on how to play and the pros and cons of the game.
Labyrinth
This game advertises that it is for kids 7 to 99 years old. Working in a clinic where parents were part of the language therapy sessions, I collected some activities as DAD BAIT. Labyrinth was one of those games that fathers seemed to enjoy as much as their child did.
The first attraction in this game is the shape of a Labyrinth and this shape continually changes, making the players rethink strategy often. The idea of being on a Treasure Hunt is fun, searching for bats and ghosts and dragons. Maybe the fact that we never had long enough to either win or lose at this game in the clinic setting reduced the issue of children who could not emotionally deal with losing. It was also possible to cheat on the child's behalf, without getting caught, and make it easier for the child to find a "treasure". Many children with ASD develop amazing puzzle skills and this board game uses a similar visual/spacial skill. So some children could compete without any help from me.