Spelling games

For a child with dysorthographia, spelling often rhymes with failure and frustration. Play can completely change that relationship. Through play, the child handles words, sounds and rules without pressure, and learns without even realising it. Here are some simple game ideas to try as a family. Learning through fun is possible.

Why play

Play creates a relaxed setting, where mistakes don’t matter. The child dares to try, to get it wrong, to start again, without fear of a bad mark. Mistakes become part of the game.

It also allows the same concepts to be repeated many times without it feeling like an exercise. Repetition is essential for memorising, and it happens naturally.

Finally, playing together strengthens the parent-child relationship, which is often strained by homework. The relationship comes out stronger. See revising spelling without tears.

Sound games

Sound games work on phonological awareness, the foundation of spelling. Look for words that rhyme, find words that start with the same sound, play “the word that loses its head”. These games are the foundation.

The “I’m going on a trip” game, using words that start with a given sound, or the odd-one-out game in a list of words, are simple and effective. They are easy to organise.

These games can be played orally, in the car or at the table. They can be played anywhere. See phonological awareness.

Letter games

Classic letter games are excellent tools: hangman, word searches, adapted crosswords, and games where you form words from letters. These classic games are effective.

For a child with dys difficulties, choose simple versions, with short words to begin with. What matters is that they succeed and enjoy it. Success is motivating.

Hangman is particularly useful: it encourages thinking about how words are spelt, letter by letter, in a playful way. Hangman is very useful.

Search for Dys professionals near you

The only online directory dedicated to professionals working with Dys disorders

Board games

Many board games work with words and spelling, often without seeming to. Letter games, word association games, guessing games. These games are fun.

Play as a family, adapting the rules if needed so your child has the same chances as the others. For example, by giving them more time. Adaptation matters.

These shared moments are precious for their confidence. These moments build confidence. See board games and dysorthographia.

Detective games

Children love playing detectives. Write a sentence with deliberate mistakes and ask them to find them. Swap roles: they write, you look for the errors. Children love this role.

The sound hunt in a text, or the hunt for forgotten plurals, are also very effective. These hunts work well.

These games develop attention to spelling and proofreading strategies. They build proofreading skills. See agreements.

Word-building games

Handling moveable letters, magnetic or wooden, to build words is very useful. The child concentrates on spelling without the constraint of the writing movement. Manipulation helps a great deal.

You can also play at changing a word by altering just one letter: “chat”, “chant”, “champ”. This game is very playful.

These games are especially suitable for young children. They suit the youngest. See Montessori.

Keeping the fun

Play should not turn into a disguised exercise. If your child doesn’t feel like playing, don’t insist. Offer another time or another game. Enjoyment is essential.

Vary the games to avoid boredom, and let them choose from time to time. Variety keeps interest alive.

The aim is for them to associate words with enjoyment, not constraint. The aim is enjoyment. See spelling routines.