Teaching While Playing: My Favorite Games
Teaching socially significant behavior is a must when working with the kiddos that we work with (or adults). However, teaching socially significant behavior does not have to be boring. We want to make sure we are #reinforcingAF, so the client is more likely to remain engaged during session and learn. Pairing ourselves with fun activities makes us more likely to be a potential reinforcer woohoo! Playing board games is a great way to teach many skills and also pairing yourself with fun activities. It is a win-win.
On my last blog post I talked about how to get potential reinforcers without breaking the bank. As promised here are some of my favorite board games to play.
I love this game because it centers on cause and effect. It is a lot like Jenga where you have to take out a piece (of spaghetti) and hope everything doesn’t come crashing down (i.e. when the yeti falls in the bowl you lose).
These are some things you can teach on while playing this game:
- Turn taking: take turns when taking out a piece of spaghetti!
- Manding: “My turn/ Your turn”
- Waiting: You have to wait your turn
- Losing: There is always a clear winner or loser
- Prepositions: “The Yeti is on top/below of the Spaghetti” “The Yeti is inside the bowl
2. Shark Bite
This game makes me anxious (in a good way). It is a shark with fishes and other sea animals inside the shark mouth. You have to fish them out before the shark bites you!
These are some things you can work on while playing this game:
- Turn taking: take turns fishing!
- Waiting: You have to wait your turn to fish
- Losing: There is always a clear winner or loser
- Fine motor skills: You fish out the sea animals by using teeny tiny fishing poles
- Tacting: “I got the blue fish”
- Manding: “My turn/ Your turn”
Okay guys, this game is super cute! This is cooperative game where everyone works together to get all of the owls safe to their nest before the sun comes out. This is also an award winning game (some #positive reinforcement for the creators: “ Go Team go!”)
These are some things you can work on while playing this game:
- Turn taking: take turns getting your card with a color spot
- Waiting: You have to wait your turn to get a card and move an owl
- Cooperative play: You have to work as a team to get the owls to their nest before the sun comes out.
- Tacting: “I got the blue card”.
- Manding: “My turn/ Your turn
It is vital to teach and shape socially significant play behaviors, so that your clients learn to can play well with their peers. For example, when kids are unable to wait their turn or play correctly, their peers are less likely to play with them. Being included in games is important so they can work on social skills and build friendships. Remember, we have to create socially significant impact with the population we work with and what better way to do it than while having fun.
Be safe and wash your hands,
Maribel
About the Author
Maribel is a grad student working towards her Masters in ABA. Maribel enjoys spending time being a nerd, cuddling with her dog, eating good food and browsing through Pinterest. She was a dancer for 10 years and likes all types of cardio (sometimes). She loves dinosaurs, cool fidgets, picture books, and arts and crafts materials. You can follow her on instagram at @behaviorsaur.
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