| Scrabble was a tradition in my family. From the time I | | | | experiences first-hand the triumph or failure of a move. |
| could barely see the board from my vantage point at | | | | Having a teammate to share the disappointment will |
| the edge of the table, I witnessed the subtle strategies | | | | help when moves aren’t successful, or when the |
| used by my older brother and sisters at play. I | | | | child doesn’t win. |
| dreamed of the day I was old enough to play—how | | | | Particularly in their early years, allow children to use a |
| I'd dazzle them all with my victory! But that day was | | | | dictionary while playing. One rule variation used in my |
| long in coming. If there’s any game that makes kids | | | | home while growing up was that players were allowed |
| feel left out, it’s Scrabble. Because it requires | | | | to “browse” the dictionary for word options as |
| reading, spelling, and vocabulary skills, many parents | | | | long as it wasn’t their turn. This way, young players |
| think Scrabble isn’t for the very young. Think again! | | | | didn’t get bored waiting for their turns, while they |
| Parents these days can easily introduce the game to | | | | acquired a great learning skill! Dictionaries are a terrific |
| a child as young as four or five years old. With a little | | | | safety net and their use can help children broaden their |
| time and effort, they can help children even develop | | | | vocabulary base. |
| advanced skills that many adults don’t know. | | | | Outside actual play there are a few games you can |
| After the Official Scrabble Player’s Dictionary, the | | | | teach that will help children sharpen their Scrabble skills. |
| best Scrabble tool introduced by Hasbro in recent | | | | Using the Scrabble tiles, have your child spell out his or |
| years is the Scrabble Junior Edition. This by far is the | | | | her name. Add up the score. Then spell out the other |
| best way to introduce Scrabble to your four year old. | | | | names of friends and family members, cities, states, |
| Play resembles regular Scrabble, getting children | | | | countries, or other favorite words, adding and |
| accustomed to the flow of the game. First, children | | | | comparing the scores of each. Play for fun, taking off |
| draw seven tiles from the pool. In turns they lay down | | | | the competitive edge, and allow the child to explore the |
| tiles from their racks to match the letters on the board. | | | | value of different word options. |
| Letter by letter they eventually spell out entire words, | | | | Few skills are more important than anagramming to a |
| winning points. By game’s end, they will have used | | | | Scrabble novice, and this is a skill you may want to |
| over a hundred tiles to work a variety of different | | | | explain as your child progresses. Give them a word |
| words. Few preschool teachers could match that for | | | | and a time limit, and challenge them to find five, ten, |
| reading practice! | | | | twenty, or even more words using only the letters |
| Children who have mastered this simplified version can | | | | given. As they improve, encourage them to find |
| then “graduate” to the next level of play by | | | | lengthier options, maybe even offering a reward for |
| flipping the game board over to reveal another basic | | | | using all the letters. I’ve used this game frequently in |
| version of the classic Scrabble game. Using this board | | | | the elementary classroom when my class is waiting in |
| and modified scoring rules, children progress in difficulty | | | | line, and I haven’t yet found a youngster who |
| and skill level. | | | | doesn’t like it. Students especially love comparing |
| By eight years old, most children will be ready for | | | | their lists. If they’ve found a word nobody else |
| regular Scrabble. Don’t get caught up in talking rules | | | | found (or a word I didn’t) it is especially rewarding. |
| and strategy at first. Just jump right in and let your child | | | | You may be surprised how fast your child picks up on |
| experience the game for him or herself. Even better, | | | | more advanced strategies after introducing Scrabble |
| you might play an opponent as a team, allowing the | | | | this way. More importantly, he or she will develop an |
| child to suggest plays and explaining tactics as the | | | | interest in word play, which is infinitely more valuable |
| game goes on. Even if it’s not the best play, use | | | | than alternative interests in TV and video games. Go |
| your child’s suggestions occasionally so that he or | | | | ahead, invite your child for a game of |
| she feels like a valuable member of the team and | | | | Scrabble—it’ll be a perfect match! |