Dyslexia Resources

Playing games is fun and kids loves to play games. Games work particularly well as a method for teaching as the child isn’t aware they are actually learning “boring” tasks such as reading and writing while playing dyslexia games.

Without making it too obvious, let the child win any game you play to build up their self-confidence. Below are a couple of great free dyslexia games you can play with your child.

Play “Multiplication Bingo” Game

This multiplication Bingo game is a very popular with most kids. Make a Bingo type card on a piece of paper; fill the squares with the answers to all the multiplication facts.

Fill the squares with the answers up to 6 x 6 with regular dice, 9 x 9 and 12 x 12 (or with the polyhedral dice available at school supply stores).

Take it in turns to roll the dice; multiply the two numbers rolled and mark it off on the players’ Bingo sheets.

Play “Make Words” Game

This 2 player game is very easy to play. Each player makes a 5×5 sized grid. The purpose of this game is to get as many dictionary words, any valid 2-5 letter words, in their grid. Both vertical and horizontal words in the grid are valid.

Each player takes turn picking letters, A starts, e.g. with letter “Y”. Both players have to put the letter Y somewhere in their grid. Hint: aim for hard words, (with z x q w etc), maybe your opponent is unaware that such word exists and he/she has to put that hard letter somewhere in their grid.

Then it is Player B turn, e.g. picks “W”. Both players have to put letter “W” somewhere in their grid. Players continue picking letters until the grid is full of letters (and hopefully full of words), and then the game is over.

Player with most words (=points) win. 2 letter words is 2 points, 3 letter words is 3 points, 4 letter words is 4 points and 5 letter words is 5 points. Both horizontal and vertical words count. Note: Only 1 word per line/column is valid (e.g. if you have the word “stone” you get 5 points but you can’t for the same line/column get 4 points for “tone” or 3 points for “one” etc.).

Check each other grid for correct spelling and to double-check for correct points.

Play “Battle Words” Game

The purpose of “Battle words” is to practice spellings that have already been taught. The aim of this game is to find out where the opponent has hidden their words in the grid.

Choose, in advance, the group of spellings of words to be practiced. 4-8 words are best, depending on the age and skill of the child.

Prepare suitably sized grids. If 2 people are playing, each will need a pair of grids. Continue vertical alphabetic co-ordinates down second grid to avoid confusion between grids. Number horizontal co-ordinates. See example:

Each player writes the same chosen words on a line in between their two grids. Check for correct spellings at this stage.

Player A hides the words in his top grid. One word per horizontal line in any order and any position as long as it fits in. Likewise, Player B hides the words in his bottom grid.

Player A begins and players take turns to say one square reference e.g. Player A says “B 6” Player B says which of his letters (or nothing) is in that square. If a “hit” the letter is entered, or if “miss” a blob, in the appropriate grid.

Players try to predict where their opponent’s letters are and can fill in the rest of the letters of words if they are sure of the positions.

The first player to find and mark the positions of all his opponent’s words is the winner. These need to be checked for confirmation.