Conversation with kids can become monosyllabic at lightening speed, especially when you are trying to keep the conversation going over the phone, on ZOOM or Face-time. It usually goes something like this:
You: How are you?
Kid: Fine
You:How was school today?
Kid: Okay
You: What are you doing?
Kid: Nothing
You: Let me talk to your mother.
How do you get a conversation going when you are a distant parent, grandparent or adult friend? Make it a game, of course. This Game is called The Word of Power. Here’s how to play:
Target Skills: Vocabulary Development and expansion, Ease in Conversation, Social Interaction
Materials: 3 x 5 index cards or pieces of paper, pencil, or pen, 3 pre-selected Power Words. ( I found terrific vocabulary lists at Flocabulary for grades Kindergarten to 8th grade. ) Whichever words you choose should be real words, but a bit unusual for a child of your young friend’s age.
Object of the game: To use each vocabulary word correctly in a story, one point for each correct use. Set the goal for “winning” to be encouraging for the child. Very young children can win by using each word once for a total of 3 points. For older children you can make it more challenging by making the criteria the first person to get 9 points wins. A bonus point can be given for creativity.
Step One: Write each selected word on one side of a 3 x 5 card or a piece of paper that is large enough to be clearly legible over a computer screen. On the reverse side, write a brief definition of the word and a sample sentence using the word for each of its meanings. A children’s dictionary like Kids.Wordsmith can be helpful. A brief Google search revealed many to choose from.
As an example for Kindergarten aged children (5 and 6 year olds) I chose : Patient, Gust, and Autumn.
Patient: 1. A person who is being cared for by a doctor or nurse (“Dr. Jill took care of her new patient before going home from the hospital” ) OR 2. The ability to wait for something without fussing. (“Even though he was very hungry, Jeff was patient and waited for his dinner quietly”.)
Gust: a quick brief and strong wind. (“The gust of wind blew my hat right off my head!”
Autumn: the season of the year between summer and winter; fall. (“My Mom loves to see the trees change color in Autumn.”).
Step Two: Introduce the game and the rules to the child. Make it fun. This is a challenge to see which of you can use the words successfully and get all the points first for the win!
Step Three: Show the words and definitions that you have clearly written on the prepared cards.
Introduce the word. Ask if he/she knows what the word means. If they do, terrific!
If the word is new to the child, use the sentences you prepared and have a brief discussion.
Encourage the child to use the word in a sentence of his/her own creation.
Step Three: Now the really fun part. Start a story. The Gift of Gab contains several suggestions. You can always go with the tried and true “Once upon a Time”. Choose your starter to set up many opportunities for the targeted words to be used. For this example: “ Once upon a time there was a gnome who was waiting in the forest among the trees when he saw that a storm was coming.”
Step Four: It is the child’s turn to keep the story going using one of the three target words. In this example I have set up many ways he or she can carry the story forward using one of the three words.
Step Five: Once the child has used all three words in the story (remember, your goal is not to win it is to keep the child talking to you and have fun together) the reward for winning can be a high five Gif, a computer kiss, a story book read by Mom or Dad, or it can be as simple as an enthusiastic “Great Job!”.
Let me know how you liked the game in the comments on Facebook or send an email to francine@giftofgab.site.
Keep the Gab Going!