What does it mean when we say someone has a “big vocabulary” or a “good vocabulary”? It means they know and use a wide range of words and express themselves with precision, clarity, and originality. It’s part of being “well spoken.”
Vocabulary games are a wonderful way to add joy to learning, while helping kids discover and use new words. These games are not just about fun—they are key tools for sparking interest and making learning an exciting adventure. Combine them with tools like workbooks, apps, and flash cards, and watch your child’s vocabulary soar.
Boost cognitive and language skills
The Night Zookeeper blog offers a terrific overview of why developing a strong vocabulary is so important for kids. Among other points, they note that “A vast knowledge of words and their meaning will improve your child’s reading comprehension, writing ability, and communication skills.” The post adds, “Investing in vocabulary building early on sets a solid foundation for lifelong learning and linguistic proficiency.”
Vocabulary games encourage thoughtful communication and better listening. Play-based learning stimulates cognitive growth by encouraging exploration and interaction with the world. In turn, children develop problem-solving skills and confidence in using language. By incorporating vocabulary games into daily routines, parents and educators can help lay a strong foundation for future academic success.
Here are a few fun vocabulary-building games:
I Spy - This classic game, in some form, is familiar to most. To make it a vocabulary game, say the letter or the object you “spy” begins with. Because this can be played anytime, anywhere it makes a high-value distraction when kids are tired of waiting. Another version from Vocabulary Luau helps boost word awareness while reading text. Give students a list of words to look for in a text or ask them to “spy” any unfamiliar words. Kids can play on their own or on teams in the classroom.
Hink Pink, Hinky Pinky, Hinkety Pinkety, or Hitinkety Pitinkety - The number of syllables in the words being used determines the name of the game, making it good for any age including grown-ups. This game requires critical thinking as well as varying levels of vocabulary. In the one-syllable version, a clue could be: “our bright daytime star is a good time” and the answer would be: “fun sun”. Or “fake hair on an oink-oink” would be “pig wig.” For a detailed description and multiple examples see this Education World page.
Sight Words Tic-Tac-Toe - One version uses flash cards, markers or chalk to make X’s and O’s, and a tic-tac-toe game board that can be drawn using sidewalk chalk or made with masking tape on table or floor. Stack the flash cards face down. Each player draws a card, and if they read it correctly, they place their marker (X or 0) on the board. Sightwords.com provides more specific details. Not only do School Zone’s Sight Words Flash Cards work great for this game, but the Parent Card includes additional activities and games to supplement the 110 basic sight words in the deck.
Vocabulary Bingo - Draw 4 X 4 grids on cardboard or white plastic, then use a bingo card generator and add words of your choice. (For older kids, spelling word lists are a good starting point!) Read the definitions of the words, and kids place a chip on the correct word until someone calls “Bingo”! This game too, is easy to customize for kids of different ages and reading/vocabulary levels.
Charades - Make an age-appropriate list or set of cards or use a pre-made deck of word cards, and take turns acting out the words without speaking and let kids guess them. You can use all animal words or words with other themes, as long as players know the category upfront. You can even use picture cards with non-readers to build word-picture associations.
Games add motivation and incentive to learning!
Other vocabulary builders to expand language skills
For a variety of ages and levels, combining games with vocabulary builders of various kinds, introduces new words in creative, memorable ways. This helps children with different learning styles understand and use a wide range of words, i.e., “have a good vocabulary.”
Here are some effective vocabulary builders:
- Flash cards: These are a timeless tool for learning new words, and they can be used in various games to reinforce word recognition. One set noted previously is School Zone’s Sight Words Flash Cards. An English-Spanish bilingual set is also available. Or explore Three-Letter Words Write & Reuse Learning Cards to practice reading, writing, and spelling words at the same time. Recognizing and mastering sight words (see below) helps prepare little learners for comprehending text. The bold illustrations and handy wipe-clean surfaces of these interactive Three-Letter Words Write & Reuse Learning Cards make them a great first step to reading!
- Digital Learning Apps: Interactive apps make learning vocabulary exciting with games and quizzes that put words in context. School Zone’s Anywhere Teacher online learning program for kids 2-8 has lots of different vocabulary-building activities. Just a few include Word Families Flash Cards, Picture Words Flash Cards, Seaside Sight Words: First Grade, and lots of word search activities, some of them with special themes like beach vacation, summer celebration, and party in the park.
- Storybooks: Reading introduces children to new vocabulary, providing context and meaning, which aids understanding. School Zone’s 3-level Start to Read! series features charming stories with relatable themes. For example, the Level 2 book The New Bike, introduces 50-70 news words, and many can be read by changing the initial sound or by rhyming with a known word. Picture clues provide considerable support for the text. Anywhere Teacher (see above) has a number of storybooks and non-fiction books with comprehension quizzes at the end.
- Workbooks: The Sight Words Fun Workbook helps kids 6-7 recognize words they need to recognize “on sight” instead of sounding out. For example, think of the words “walk,” “one,” “to,” or “their.” The Word Searches Workbook is about so much more than looking for and becoming familiar with specific words. Simple clues give kids ages 8 and up hints about each word as they uncover fascinating facts, from garden flowers to galaxies. Handy reference maps will strengthen their world geography and map-reading skills. Fun activities, codes, and games coupled with critical thinking questions reinforce new vocabulary words and facts.
Giving kids comprehensive vocabulary-building through games, flash cards, workbooks, and apps delivers multi-sensory learning.
Mastering sight words and high frequency words
For early learners, mastering sight words is a crucial step in building vocabulary and developing literacy. The best way to learn sight words is by seeing and saying them over and over. Many sight words are also high frequency words. Often introduced in kindergarten, these are the most common words in written texts.
In addition to using flash cards and workbooks, strategies for teaching sight and high frequency words include many of the tools already mentioned:
- Interactive Games: Games like bingo or memory match make learning these words fun. For example, School Zone’s Memory Match Android game app has three levels of play and pairings: Animal to Baby Animal, Picture to Beginning Letter, and Picture to Three-Letter Word. Touch any tile to see what’s there, and then touch another tile to find a match. Try and remember what’s where for more matches. The game builds word and memory skills!
- Repetition and Practice: Regular practice with flash cards or apps reinforces sight word recognition.
Sight words and high-frequency words are the foundation for effective reading.
One word at a time, vocabulary grows
At all ages, grades, and skill levels vocabulary games are a powerful tool in early education, enhancing cognitive and language skills while making learning fun. From building vocabulary to mastering sight words and spelling, games, when combined with other tools like apps, flash cards, and workbooks. offer a comprehensive approach to language learning.
We invite you to explore the wide range of resources available at School Zone to help you help your child build a strong vocabulary and so much more.
