Screen-free spelling exercises

There are plenty of spelling apps, but many parents would like to limit screen time. Fortunately, most of the exercises that help a child with dysorthographia can be done very well with paper, letters and a little imagination. Here are screen-free activities using simple, inexpensive materials.

The benefits of going screen-free

Screen-free exercises encourage interaction with the adult, who can adjust the activity in real time. They involve movement and touch, which help to memorise the spelling of words. They also avoid the distractions of screens. The child stays focused on the task, without notifications or animations.

The aim is not to ban digital tools, which have their uses, especially for older children. But for basic learning, paper and hands-on manipulation remain very effective. A balance between the two is ideal. Each family finds its own. The page dysorthographia and screens covers this topic.

The slate, an ally for spelling

A slate allows the child to write, check and erase quickly. The child can make mistakes without leaving a trace, which reassures them. It is used for word dictations, gap-fill exercises or quick challenges.

A pen of a different colour can be used for corrections, which makes the correction visible and positive. The child shows their slate, you check it together, then erase it. The pace is brisk and the activity light. This material fits in a school bag. It costs little and lasts a long time.

Movable letters

Wooden, cardboard or magnetic letters make it possible to build words without writing. The child chooses the letters, places them, looks at the word and corrects if needed. They handle spelling instead of enduring it. Correcting a letter takes a single movement, with no crossing out.

You can ask them to change a word by swapping one letter, or to add an “s” to make the plural. These manipulations make the rules concrete. They are especially suitable for children who also have handwriting difficulties. The graphic movement is no longer an obstacle. The child concentrates solely on spelling.

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Word cards

Cards made at home, with a word on one side and a drawing on the other, can be used for many games. Memory, snap, family-style card games: familiar rules adapt easily to spelling. The child plays with the family. Everyone can make their own cards.

You can also make rule cards, with a tip and an example, which the child consults or which are drawn at random for revision. These cards fit into a box that can be taken everywhere. They are renewed over the weeks. Cards that have been mastered are set aside, then brought out again for review. The page spelling memo sheets presents a similar tool.

Sand and modelling clay

Writing a word in a tray of sand or semolina involves movement and touch. The child traces the word with a finger, saying each letter aloud. They erase it by shaking the tray and start again.

Modelling clay makes it possible to form the letters of a difficult word in three dimensions. The child touches them, looks at them and assembles them. These sensory activities help to memorise words that cause problems. Younger children especially enjoy them. Older children can also find a moment of relaxation in them. The multisensory exercises offer more.

Oral spelling games

Some games are played purely orally: spelling a word, finding words from the same family, or finding the feminine form of an adjective to hear its silent letter. They need no materials at all. They can be played in the car, at the table or on a walk.

Spelling aloud is a particularly useful exercise, as it requires the child to picture each letter. You can spell the week’s words in turn. The child can also spell a word backwards to make the challenge harder. These games keep spelling skills sharp without tiring anyone. They are especially suitable for evenings when the child is exhausted.

Screen-free and follow-up

These screen-free activities complement the work of the speech and language therapist, without replacing it. They can indicate which ones suit the child best, and suggest others. They often use similar materials in sessions. The child thus finds familiar landmarks at home.

A speech and language therapist near you can be found in the ProfessionnelsDys directory. For older children, some digital tools remain very useful. The page software for children with dysorthographia presents them.