Q:

How can I encourage my students to have fun developing language skills during wet playtime?

A:

This is an interesting and timely question to ask! Today as I look out of the window, I see the menacing black clouds looming ominously in the sky, clearly signalling it’s that time of year again, the time that most adults, let alone class teachers and breaktime/playtime supervisors, dread!

We know that breaktimes contribute significantly to the development of children’s speech, language and communication skills. Children’s play is so much more than ‘just playing’, it provides children with opportunities to learn, explore and experiment, while expanding skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking and the ability to listen and interact with others. However, in a world where technology and other demands frequently consume a child’s free time, play can often be dismissed, overlooked or not even thought about.

So, can we use these ‘wet play’ breaktimes to offer some easy to manage, independent play opportunities that will also help to support essential speech, language and communication skills? The answer is yes!

First things first – be prepared!

As you know, you may only have a few minutes notice of ‘wet play’, so it’s important to be prepared:

• You’ll need a dedicated and easy to access space to keep wet play resources where children can access them (with permission), as you don’t want to be the only one who can put things away!
• Ask your class what sort of things they would like to be able to do or play with during wet play.
• Agree a set of simple rules and display them in the classroom. Revisit these frequently to help the children remember what was agreed.
• Use storage boxes to store resources. Put items such as jigsaw puzzles and games in zip lock bags, ensuring that the picture of the jigsaw is stuck to the front of the bag.

Below is a list of suggested games and activities you could include. Each one details the language skills they can help to develop. Have a think about the speech and language needs of your class, as well as the children’s interests, and see if you can help support the development of their speech and language skills through wet play.

CARD GAMES:

Snap (turn taking)

Pairs (attention and listening; vocabulary development; talking about same and different)

Uno (social communication skills; turn taking with multiple players)

Dobble (semantic links; narrative skills)

Top Trumps (vocabulary; comparison)

TABLETOP/BOARD GAMES

Guess Who? (generating yes/no questions; auditory memory; expressive language)

Connect 4 (turn taking)

Jenga (social communication understanding of concepts such as ‘slow’, ‘gentle’, ‘rough’ and ‘careful’)

Hedbanz (questioning skills; categories; comprehension; prepositions; concepts)

Barrier games (attention and listening; following instructions; describing)

Simon Says (following and giving instructions)

OTHER RESOURCES

Jigsaws (attention and concentration; concepts; problem solving)

Box of Lego® (pieces/ construction kits imaginative play; independent play; concepts; sharing skills)

Story stones/story starters/story strings (understanding of questions skills; sequencing; expressive language)

Small world resources (social skills; sharing; vocabulary; role play)

Pens (colouring) and paper (attention and concentration; imagination; turn taking)

Question/discussion/prompt cards (listening skills; critical thinking; concepts; vocabulary)

New subscribers to Language Link will be sent a Spread the Word Pack. Packed with posters, stickers and ready-to-use activities it is a resource that can be used throughout the school day and its community. From playground ideas to a wet play pack, there is something for everyone. Find out more here: www.tinyurl.com/2x4kd4uk