Words and Talking
Little games with pictures that build words, sentences and chatting — with no pressure to say anything out loud.
- Children building their language
- Autistic children
- Children who find chatting hard
- Children who use pictures or devices to communicate
Answer your way. Say it, point to it, sign it, tap a picture, or show a card or device. Every way counts the same.
Pick a game
Words and meanings
How words connect, what they mean, and how to say a few things about them.
- Words That Go TogetherTwo pictures, and the reason they belong together.About 4 to 8
- Word ChainTake turns adding a word that connects to the last one.About 4 to 9
- Same Way PairsFind the pair that goes together in the same way.About 5 to 9
- Pretend It Is…One object, lots of things it could pretend to be.About 3 to 7
- Tell Me About…Pick a topic, add details, and turn them into sentences.About 5 to 9
Chatting and asking
Questions, comments, turns and the steps of everyday talking.
- Chat CardsQuestions to ask, ways to start a chat, and ideas that help.About 5 to 10
- Find Out About a FriendAsk a pretend friend what they like, then tell what you found out.About 4 to 9
- Look What I FoundPoint things out, and notice when a friend points something out.About 3 to 8
- Match My CommentA friend shares something. Share something on the same topic.About 4 to 9
- Chat BuilderPlan a chat, build it one turn at a time, and see its shape.About 6 to 11
- Question SpinnerSpin a question word, pick a topic, and ask or answer.About 4 to 9
- Step by StepPut everyday talking jobs in order: ordering, phoning, asking for help.About 5 to 11
Feelings, safety and kindness
What happened, how it feels, what could help, and who can help.
- Feelings and CausesWhat happened, how it might feel, and what could help.About 4 to 9
- Fix-It CardsA problem, some ideas, and what might happen next.About 5 to 10
- Safe or Tricky?Sort things into safe, tricky, or one to check with a trusted grown-up.About 4 to 9
- Kind or Unkind?Think about the words, the voice, and how it might feel.About 5 to 10
Opinions and thinking
Saying what you think, giving a reason, and telling a fact from an opinion.
How it works
1
Choose a game. Each one has a few sets to pick from.
2
Look, tap and build. There is nothing to win and no wrong tap.
3
Talk about it together, away from the screen, if you like.
4
Come back any time. Nothing is saved and nothing is counted.
Who this is for
Children roughly three to ten who are building their words, their sentences, or their confidence with chatting. It suits autistic children and others who like clear structure, pictures and turns. A grown-up sits alongside for the first few goes.
What it will not do
- It will not score, time or compare a child.
- It will not ask a child to speak, or to look anyone in the eye.
- It will not decide that one way of chatting is the right one.
- It is not therapy, and it does not replace a speech pathologist.
Everything here is a game and a starting point. If you are worried about a child's speech or language, a speech pathologist can assess and support them properly.
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