No New Toys Needed: Using Household Games to Build Speech and Language Skills

As a pediatric speech-language pathologist (SLP) and a parent of three children (ages 3, 5, and 8), I know firsthand how powerful play can be in fostering language development. Many parents want to help their children strengthen their communication skills but aren’t sure where to start. The good news? You don’t need fancy flashcards or structured drills—some of the best speech and language practice can happen during family game night! Games like Headbanz, UNO, and Guess Who are excellent tools for encouraging vocabulary growth, articulation practice, and social communication skills in a fun and engaging way.

Headbanz: Encouraging Vocabulary, Descriptive Language, and Categorization

Headbanz is a fantastic game for promoting expressive and receptive language skills. Players wear a card on their forehead and must ask yes/no questions to figure out what image is on their card. This game naturally encourages children to use descriptive language by asking questions like, “Is it an animal? Does it have fur?” They also practice categorizing items into groups, such as foods, animals, or household objects, which builds their semantic knowledge and word retrieval skills.

With younger kids, it may be helpful to take a look at the cards prior to playing and talk about some of the attributes. With my 3-year-old, I started by giving her only food or animal cards to guess and gradually worked in items from different categories. This approach helps scaffold their understanding and makes the game more manageable for younger players.

Additionally, Headbanz provides an opportunity for children to practice their articulation skills. Encouraging children to clearly pronounce the word once they guess it adds an extra layer of speech practice. If a child is working on articulation goals, parents can select cards that contain words with their target sounds. For example, if a child is practicing the /s/ sound, words like sun, sock, or sandwich can be emphasized.

Guess Who: Practicing Descriptive Language and Question Formation

Guess Who is another game that encourages the use of attributes and descriptive language. Children must think critically about the features that differentiate characters, strengthening their ability to describe objects and people in other contexts. Additionally, the process of elimination requires logical reasoning and problem-solving skills.

Engaging in back-and-forth conversation is another key benefit of Guess Who. Children learn to listen carefully to their opponent’s responses and adjust their questions accordingly. If a child has specific speech targets, parents can encourage clear articulation while asking questions or stating observations about their character.

Both Guess Who and Headbanz are excellent for working on question formation, a crucial skill for language development. These games teach children how to ask yes/no questions in a structured way, such as, “Does your person have glasses?” or “Is your person wearing a hat?” They also reinforce the essential skill of answering yes/no questions.

Admittedly, I often try to catch a peek of the card I'm trying to guess when playing these games with my 3-year-old so I can make sure she is answering my questions appropriately! This extra support can help younger children practice giving accurate responses while still enjoying the game.

UNO: Supporting Turn-Taking, Colors, and Sentence Structure

UNO is a simple but effective game for reinforcing basic language concepts. Young children benefit from color and number recognition as they match and play their cards. The game also encourages following multi-step directions, which strengthens receptive language skills.

During play, children can be encouraged to use complete sentences, such as saying, “I have a red three” instead of just “Red three.” This small adjustment helps reinforce proper sentence structure. The game also provides an opportunity to practice sequencing words, such as first, next, then, last, which are essential for storytelling and narrative skills.

UNO can also be adapted for articulation practice. Before playing a card, children can say a target word or phrase that contains a sound they are working on. This keeps speech practice engaging and interactive without feeling like a structured exercise.

The Power of Sibling Interaction and Learning Good Sportsmanship

One of the best parts about playing games as a family is watching siblings interact, teach, and learn from each other. Older siblings can model more advanced language skills, helping younger ones form questions and encouraging them to speak in full sentences. This kind of peer interaction is invaluable for language growth, as younger children learn from hearing and imitating their older siblings’ speech patterns and vocabulary.

Beyond language development, family game nights provide a wonderful opportunity for children to develop social-emotional skills. Learning how to win and lose graciously is an important life lesson. When children experience both success and setbacks in a safe and supportive environment, they build resilience and emotional regulation skills. These moments teach them that games are about fun and connection, rather than just winning.

Final Thoughts

Incorporating speech and language practice into everyday play doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple games like Headbanz, UNO, and Guess Who provide endless opportunities for kids to strengthen their communication skills while having fun. As an SLP and a parent, I encourage families to make play a part of their daily routine. The best learning happens when kids are engaged, excited, and having fun!

References

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2020). The importance of play in language development. Retrieved from www.asha.org

• Owens, R. E. (2020). Language development: An introduction (10th ed.). Pearson.

• Weisberg, D. S., Zosh, J. M., Hirsh-Pasek, K., & Golinkoff, R. M. (2013). Talking it up: Play, language development, and the role of adult support. American Journal of Play, 6(1), 39-54.

• ChatGPT was used to assist in drafting and refining this blog post.