Play Your Way to Kindergarten Success:

Speech & Language Games to Try at Home

This week in our short series about KG preparedness, we are talking about ways to make it FUN. Games are are great way to do just that.

The good news: Getting your child ready for kindergarten doesn’t have to feel like “schoolwork.” In fact, play-based learning is one of the best ways to boost speech and language skills — and kids learn best when they’re having fun!

Here are some of Katie’s favorite games for boosting communication skills at home:

1. I Spy (with Categories & Descriptions)

• Say: “I spy something that is red and crunchy!”

• Your child guesses: “An apple!”

• Boosts: Descriptive language, category knowledge, listening skills

 2. Rhyming Hunt

• Pick a word (like “cat”) and take turns finding rhymes (hat, bat, mat).

• Boosts: Phonological awareness, early literacy skills

3. Simon Says

• Give 2- or 3-step directions (e.g., “Simon says touch your nose, then hop!”)

• Boosts: Following directions, listening, understanding action words

4. Story Time with a Twist

• Read a picture book and pause to ask questions: “What do you think will happen next?” “Why did she feel sad?”

• Boosts: Vocabulary, comprehension, expressive language

5. Pretend Play (Restaurant, School, Grocery Store)

• Let your child lead pretend play scenarios where they use role-specific language: “What would a teacher say?”

• Boosts: Social communication, vocabulary, conversation skills

Pro Tip: Keep a bin of props or costumes handy for spontaneous pretend play sessions!

Check out our socials through the rest of the summer to see what we are doing to gear up for the return of the classroom and how to get your new student ready to join their peers with their best foot forward!