All Around the Playground

All Around the Playground

Using games in therapy sessions

All Around the Playground is a great fun activity that can be used by speech & language therapists, occupational therapists, and special education teachers.  Games can make therapy fun and engaging for the child while the therapist can elicit responses and actions that meet therapy goals. 

All Around the Playground

All Around the Playground is a board game by Learning Resources for two to four players. To set up, each player chooses a piece and places it on the start circle. Put the spinner on the table with the shapes side up.

Suggested lesson for All Around the Playground

“Today we’re going to play All Around the Playground.” 

“It is your turn, so you spin the spinner.” 

“The spinner stops on Red with a Heart. Find the first Red square. Red on the spinner and Red on the game board. Move your token. Let’s count as we move. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 spaces.”

“Now it is my turn. I spin the spinner and it stops on Green with a Star. There is the first green space. 1, 2 spaces. I am on Green with a Star.”” 

“It is your turn to spin the spinner. It stops on Blue with a Square. Let’s look for the next Blue space. Yes, there it is. Let’s count. 1, 2 spaces. Move your token. You are on Blue with a Square.” 

You can also make the game harder by flipping the spinner to the numbers side. You move forward the number of spaces spun on the spinner. Multiple players will be able to share the same space. Spinning a zero means you do not move this turn, and spinning the double arrows means you switch places with another player.

For children who are able to follow these directions, add another step. You can incorporate vocabulary cards or articulation cards. If you are working on particular sounds, reinforce the correct placement and production of the sounds.

If the child is more proficient with sound production, have them use the word in a sentence. Start with a carrier sentence, then go to a more complicated sentence.

If the goals are to improve receptive and expressive language, incorporate WH questions.