Games for Kids With Special Needs

Board Games

• The website, Special Kids Today, states that board games offer special needs children a chance to put their cognitive skills to work, as well as the opportunity to interact with other children. Finding the right board game for the children's needs may be a matter of trial and error but is well worth the effort, as it is an effective means of encouraging the kids to work together and communicate with others.

Name the Category

• Offer the child a list of three items and ask him to figure out what the items have in common. Keep the answers limited to one word to avoid confusion. This gets the child thinking about large and small categories, while he also works on his vocabulary and expressive language.

Jumping Game

• This simple game utilizes the rhyme "One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready and four to go, go go!" On the first phrase, the children keep their hands at their sides. On the second phrase, the children stretch their arms away from their sides. On the third phrase, they raise their arms over their heads, and on the final phrase, they jump high three times on each "go." This helps energize the children in preparation for other activities.

Button Relay Race

• After placing a buttoned-up shirt in a chair at one end of the room, line the kids up at the other end of the room. On the signal, the first child runs to the shirt and unbuttons it completely and then returns to the line and tags the next child. The next child buttons the shirt back up and returns to tag the next child. This process is repeated until every child has had a turn buttoning the shirt. This promotes cooperation and fine motor control.