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by Erica Zollman, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
The car is a great place to practice speech/language skills and strategies. Take advantage of time spent in the car by playing some fun, language-based games.
Here are a few ideas:
- Categories: To play this game, one player chooses
a category, such as “animals.” Every player takes a turn naming an item in the
category. If a player repeats a word or is unable to name a word in the category,
he/she is out. Play continues until one player remains and wins the game. To make
this task more complex, have the child add more descriptive words to the category
(e.g., animals with tails, animals that live in the zoo) or name animals alphabetically
(eg., aardvark, bear, cat, dog, etc.).
- Rhyme Time: To practice phonological awareness skills, children can practice
creating rhymes for things they see from the car window or in the environment
around them. For example, if a child chooses the word “tree,” other players
must name some rhyming words (e.g., knee, see, me). The player who gives the
most rhymes is the winner! As an added bonus, players can create rhymes using
nonsense words (e.g., slee, dree). Other players take turns identifying whether the
rhyming word is a real word or a nonsense word.
- Cities and Syllables: As you pass through different towns, cities, or states, children
can practice counting the number of syllables in that city or state’s name. For
example, when passing through Idaho, the child counts or claps out three syllables.
When passing through Tallahassee, the child counts/claps out four syllables. In a
variation of this game, a parent chooses a particular number of syllables. Players
look for words in the environment (e.g., road signs, billboards) that contain the
specified number of syllables. Each player earns a point for finding a word. The
player with the most points wins!
- Guess It: Players take turns describing familiar items or objects (e.g., car, apple,
baby). The first player chooses an object and gives three clues to describe it. All
of the other players take turns guessing what the first player is describing (e.g., It
is a fruit; it can be red or green; it grows on a tree). If no players guess correctly,
the first player provides another clue about the object. The player who correctly
identifies the mystery object earns a point and chooses the next word to describe.
- Showtime: Choose age-appropriate DVDs to show children in the car. As the
movie or program plays, pause the film to ask questions, such as:
- Who is that character?
- What do you think is going to happen next?
- Where does this story take place?
- When does this story take place?
- How does this character feel? Why? How can you tell? When was a time that you felt that way?
- Who is your favorite character? Why?
- What was your favorite part of the movie? Why?
At the end of the film, have the child retell the story to another person in the car.
The story should include characters, settings, chronological events, and a conclusion.
Encourage the child to produce a story with a beginning, middle, and end.
- Apps: Educational apps that help children practice language skills are available
for tablets or smartphones. Apps like Super Duper’s StoryMaker are interactive
and engaging. Apps can address several domains of language: grammar,
vocabulary, and social skills.
Long rides in the car can be fun and educational! Playing games during long trips is a
great way to expand and reinforce language skills.
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