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Fun and Learning
Board Games and Special Needs By Teri Brown
Board Games and LearningBoard games can help reinforce skills the special needs child might be struggling with. Counting, logic, matching and letter recognition can all be taught with board games. "Board games can help with specific academic skills," Dr. Trammell says. "Many games, like the old classic Monopoly, involve being able to count simple amounts of money. Managing money in games also involves visual organization and categorization. Many board games combine academic skills. For example, a child might need to count, read direction and move a piece successfully on a grid all in one turn. In other cases, they may have to follow a different set of directions each turn. Many games challenge and instruct children in math, reading and critical thinking without advertising as such."
Board Games and LearningTrammel says that there are games specifically designed and made for targeting academic need. These games are available in special education catalogs and through other retail outlets.
How to Choose
When Michelle Brooks of Concord, N.C., chooses a board game for her children, she puts a lot more thought into it than just picking up something that looks fun. She has to; both her sons, ages 7 and 9, are autistic. "The most important factor in picking a game to even try with my children is that the game has to address one of their topics," she says. "Children on the autism spectrum have very intense focus on a limited number of subjects. If a subject does not interest the child, it's sometimes impossible to even get a response from the child on the subject." Brooks, like many mothers of children with special needs, has learned that board games can be a fun and educational experience, provided you choose the right board game. Some games are designed purely for fun while others have been designed with more than just fun in mind and tend to serve educational purposes more easily. First and foremost, parents should look for games that are appropriate for their child's age and ability level.