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Some children can explain why they deserve another biscuit in remarkable detail. Ask what happened at school, though, and the answer is “nothing”. Finding something they want to talk about can make all the difference.
The best language games for kids give words a purpose. Children might name a picture, describe an animal, invent a story or explain a connection. Vocabulary games for kids work best when new words become part of an enjoyable conversation.
Children often have plenty to say when something catches their interest. A guessing game or a funny picture gives you something to talk about together, without making it feel like a lesson.
New words are easier to understand when children can connect them to something familiar. While playing with animal cards, for example, you can point out a giraffe’s long neck or act out how a frog jumps. The words become part of what you're doing together.
“Who’s hiding behind this card?” can start a conversation that goes beyond naming an animal. Your child might ask where it lives, tell you what it eats or remind you of one they saw at the zoo. Follow their lead—you don't have to get through every card.
Give your child time to answer, even if it takes a little while. If they say, “Dog running,” you can respond, “Yes, the dog is running after the ball!” You're building on their idea while keeping the game going. There's no need to stop the fun for a grammar check.
From naming familiar pictures to inventing unusual stories, these activities give children different reasons to talk.
Pictures give younger children something familiar to point to and name.
Skillmatics’ First 100 Animals Flash Cards, for ages 1–4, includes 50 double-sided cards featuring realistic animal imagery. These animal flash cards for toddlers can be used for naming and sorting activities.
Start with a few familiar animals. Say the name, make its sound and talk about one detail: “The elephant has a long trunk.” If your child wants another round of lion noises, join in.
Sentence activities help children move from single words to fuller ideas. Start with “The cat sleeps” and ask where it sleeps or what it looks like.
Sentence Sprouts, for ages 6–10, is a creative writing activity book with 50 themes and over 150 prompts. For parents looking for sentence-building games for kids, it offers a writing-based option.
Try saying an idea aloud before writing it down. Your child can work out what they want to say before picking up the pencil.
Older children can use flash cards to explore unfamiliar words, their meanings and how to use them.
Wordables: Level 1, for ages 8+, includes 50 double-sided cards featuring visuals, word associations, humour and sound-play.
With these vocabulary flash cards for kids, choose a few words and make up sentences together. Take turns so your child gets to hear your examples, too.
Guessing games encourage children to be specific. “It's an animal” leaves plenty of possibilities. “It has four legs and lives on a farm” gives everyone more to work with.
Guess in 10 Junior: World of Animals, for ages 3–6, uses Guider Tiles and questions about animals' habitats, food and features.
Help your child turn an idea into a question. Instead of naming every animal they know, they can ask questions that help narrow down the answer.
Storytelling brings words together through characters, actions and events.
Sticker Stories: Adventures Around Town, for ages 3–7, includes 16 stories and reusable stickers for creating scenes. As one of the creative learning games for kids, it offers a hands-on way to follow a story and add new ideas.
After reading, ask, “What happens next?” Let your child move the characters and explain their choices. Their version might take a surprising turn.
Category games ask children to think of words that belong together. Word association takes a different approach: one word suggests another, such as beach, sand and castle.
Rapid Rumble, for ages 6+, combines category cards, letter cards, a die and a timer. Players name answers that match the category and their letters.
Practise without the timer first. Once everyone understands the rules, add the countdown for a livelier round.
Age labels are a good starting point. Also consider how much reading, listening and adult support an activity requires.
|
Age |
Activities to consider |
|
1–3 years |
Picture naming, animal sounds and simple choices with an adult. |
|
3–5 years |
Short clues, pretend conversations and supported storytelling. |
|
6–7 years |
Sentence activities and familiar category games. |
|
8+ years |
New word meanings, associations and more detailed descriptions. |
A child who enjoys talking may still need help reading instructions. Choose an appropriate challenge and offer support when needed.
Speech and language toys are play materials that encourage listening, naming, describing and conversation. Picture cards, puppets and pretend-play sets are a few examples.
They provide opportunities to practise language together. However, they are not treatments for speech difficulties or a guarantee that a child will speak sooner.
A good vocabulary toy makes children curious about words and gives them opportunities to use them.
Look for activities that encourage children to name objects, describe what they see, ask questions and connect ideas. Toys that offer different ways to play can also keep conversations interesting as children become more confident.
Most importantly, choose something your child enjoys. A simple game that sparks conversation can be more engaging than an activity that feels like a lesson.
You don't need to plan an entire activity to get kids talking. Try one of these games while waiting for dinner or when you hear the familiar “I'm bored!”
Skillmatics’ educational games for kids offer different ways to practise talking, reading and writing.
Another option is Picture Talk, for ages 4–9. It includes 50 real-life photo cards and over 300 open-ended questions. Children can describe what they see, share their ideas and discuss how people in the pictures might be feeling.
These language learning games give families conversation starters while leaving plenty of room for children's own ideas.
Choose an activity your child enjoys, take time to listen and let the conversation unfold. Sometimes, a lively discussion can start with just a few words.
Explore Skillmatics’ learning collection for age-appropriate cards, storytelling activities and writing prompts suited to your child's interests.
Picture naming, guessing, storytelling, sentence-building and category games are all good options. Choose an activity that suits your child's age, interests and comfort level with the rules.
They give children opportunities to hear new words, explore their meanings and use them in context. Revisit these words naturally during conversations, stories and everyday activities.
Picture cards, puppets, interactive books and pretend-play sets can encourage conversation. Look for age-appropriate materials that invite children to point, name, describe and take turns with an adult.
Simple wordplay can begin in infancy through songs, pictures and naming familiar objects. Introduce age-appropriate games as your child grows, keeping activities simple and following their lead.
Yes, they can be useful when adults add conversation, examples and playful activities. Encourage children to understand and use each word rather than memorise every card in one sitting.
Talk about what your child is doing, introduce relevant words and use them again in everyday situations. Follow their interests, listen closely and make room for questions and ideas.
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