Use Jenga in Speech Therapy

Creative Ways SLPs Can Add Fun With Jenga in their Speech Therapy Sessions

Jenga is a versatile and engaging tool that can enhance speech therapy sessions in multiple ways. While playing Jenga in the traditional sense is fun, it often disrupts the flow of therapy due to the time it takes to restack the tower after it falls. To maximize therapy time, here are three creative alternatives for using Jenga blocks during your sessions.

1. Barrier Games with Jenga Blocks

Barrier games are excellent for improving communication, following directions, and understanding descriptive language. Here’s how you can adapt Jenga blocks for this purpose:

• Setup: Provide each student or team with about 10 Jenga blocks and set up a barrier (e.g., a file folder) between participants.
• Activity: Students build a structure with their blocks and must verbally describe how to recreate it for their partner or team without showing the structure.
• Focus Areas: This activity is great for practicing descriptive language, spatial concepts, and basic instructions.

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2. Motivation Tool and Category Practice

Jenga blocks can be used as a motivational tool while also targeting speech and language goals:

• Stickers on Blocks: Add stickers to the blocks, each representing an object, category, or concept. For example:
  • Students might describe the object on the sticker.
  • They can sort the blocks into categories (e.g., animals, foods, or transportation).
  • They can use the word in a sentence or define it.
• Task Completion: After completing a therapy task, students earn a Jenga block to use in building their own creation. This motivates them to engage with their therapy goals while enjoying a creative reward.

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3. Quick Round-Robin Jenga

Transform traditional Jenga into a fast-paced activity that minimizes downtime and maximizes engagement:

• Divide the Blocks: Split the Jenga blocks evenly among the students (e.g., 17 blocks each for three players).
• Round-Robin Play:
  • Call out a category (e.g., “animals”), and students must name something that fits the category (e.g., dog, cat, mouse) to place a block on the tower.
  • For descriptive practice, ask students to describe an object (e.g., “table”) using appropriate adjectives.
  • For articulation, have students produce target sounds or words correctly before placing their block.
• Fast-Paced Stacking: Continue until all the blocks are stacked. The first student to use all their blocks wins. This method keeps therapy moving while quickly rebuilding the tower.

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Why Use Jenga in Therapy?

Jenga blocks offer flexibility and fun while addressing multiple therapy goals:

• Encourages Participation: The game format naturally engages students and motivates them to complete tasks.
• Supports Versatility: Jenga can be adapted for articulation, descriptive language, categorization, and more.
• Minimizes Downtime: Quick round-robin games ensure that therapy continues seamlessly without lengthy interruptions to restack the tower.

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With these creative strategies, Jenga becomes more than a game—it’s a powerful tool for enhancing speech therapy sessions. Try these ideas in your practice and watch your students engage, learn, and have fun!

How do you use Jenga in therapy? Share your tips in the comments below!