Boost Reading Skills with These Fun Board and Card Games
Learning to read and spell doesn’t have to feel like homework! Playing games can help kids strengthen their reading, spelling, and comprehension skills in a fun and engaging way. Here are some of our favorite board and card games that build literacy skills while keeping the whole family entertained.
Here are 10 Fun Reading Skills Games:
1. Bananagrams
Skills: Spelling, Vocabulary, Word Recognition
Bananagrams is a fast-paced word game where players use letter tiles to build their own crossword-style word grids. Because speed is key, kids practice thinking quickly about spelling and word construction, reinforcing phonics and vocabulary skills.
2. Scrabble (or Scrabble Junior)
Skills: Spelling, Vocabulary, Word Building
Scrabble challenges players to create words from letter tiles and score points based on letter values and placement. This game strengthens spelling skills, expands vocabulary, and encourages strategic thinking. Scrabble Junior is a great option for younger kids who are still developing their reading skills.
3. Apples to Apples Junior
Skills: Vocabulary, Word Associations, Critical Thinking
In this word-matching game, players take turns choosing the best word card to match a given adjective. It helps kids expand their vocabulary, think creatively about word meanings, and make logical connections between words.
4. Quiddler
Skills: Spelling, Word Recognition, Phonics
Quiddler is a card game that challenges players to build words from letter cards. Each round increases in difficulty as players receive more cards to work with. It’s an excellent way to reinforce spelling and phonics skills while keeping the game dynamic and fun.
5. Zingo! Word Builder
Skills: Sight Words, Phonics, Early Reading
Perfect for early readers, Zingo! Word Builder helps children recognize common words and sound out new ones. The game’s interactive tile-matching format makes learning phonics and sight words exciting for younger learners.
6. Boggle
Skills: Spelling, Word Recognition, Rapid Thinking
Boggle is a classic word search game where players shake letter cubes and race against the clock to form as many words as possible. This game helps kids think quickly, recognize letter patterns, and improve spelling skills.
7. Word on the Street
Skills: Vocabulary, Spelling, Phonemic Awareness
Players compete to move letter tiles across the board by coming up with words that contain those letters. The game promotes vocabulary development, spelling, and phonemic awareness by encouraging kids to think strategically about word formation.
8. Rory’s Story Cubes
Skills: Comprehension, Storytelling, Creative Thinking
Rory’s Story Cubes are dice with pictures that players roll and use to create a story. This game strengthens reading comprehension by encouraging kids to think about sequencing, cause and effect, and storytelling structure.
9. Blurt!
Skills: Vocabulary, Word Retrieval, Comprehension
Blurt! is a fast-paced game where players race to shout out words that match a given definition. It’s a great way to build vocabulary, improve word retrieval skills, and enhance comprehension.
10. Mad Libs
Skills: Grammar, Sentence Structure, Parts of Speech
A fun twist on storytelling, Mad Libs helps kids practice parts of speech like nouns, verbs, and adjectives while creating hilarious stories. It’s an excellent way to reinforce grammar and comprehension skills in a playful, creative way.
Build Reading Skills & Make Learning Fun with Games!
Games are a fantastic way to support literacy development without the pressure of traditional schoolwork. Whether your child is a beginner or an advanced reader, these board and card games can help improve their spelling, comprehension, and vocabulary while making learning fun. Give one a try at your next family game night!
Looking for more ways to strengthen reading skills?
Practice alone is not enough to give kids the skills for reading mastery and comprehension. Here’s why:
LearningRx offers cognitive training programs designed to help kids build the underlying skills needed for reading success. Click here to learn more! >>
