25 Board Games for Pragmatics in Secondary Speech Therapy

1. Guess Who Grab & Go

IEP Goal Targets:

• Inferences

• Perspective Taking

• Facial Expressions

• Yes/no questions

• Asking Questions

• On topic responses

2. Hedbandz

IEP Goal Targets:

• Inferences

• Describing

• Semantic Categories

• Asking questions

• Engagement

3. Would You Rather?

IEP Goal Targets:

• Perspective taking

• Backing up opinions

• Inferences

• Conversation

• Asking questions

• Engagement

4. Sussed?

IEP Goal Targets:

• Conversation

• Social reasoning

• Inferences

• Perspective Taking

5. Apples to Apples

IEP Goal Targets:

• Decision making

• Defending choices

• Flexibility

• Executive Functioning

• Turn Taking

• Great for mixed groups

6. Taboo Charades

IEP Goal Targets:

• Inferences

• Reading social cues

• Vocabulary

• Flexibility

• Perspective Taking

7. Blurt!

IEP Goal Targets:

• Vocabulary

• Word retrieval

• Listening comprehension

• Turn Taking

• Ideal for Quick Sessions

8. Scattergories Cards

IEP Goal Targets:

• Vocabulary

• Semantic

• Cognitive flexibility

• Word retrieval

• Turn Taking

• Engagement

9. Word on the Street

IEP Goal Targets:

• Vocabulary

• Spelling

• Semantics

• Vocabulary

• Good option for newer game

10. Just One

IEP Goal Targets:

• Giving concise answers

• Perspective taking

• Repairing communication breakdowns

• Problem solving

  Works for large groups & push in classes

11. Uno Flip

IEP Goal Targets:

• Cognitive flexibility

• Reading social cues

• Emotional regulation

• Turn Taking

• Refresh of familiar game

12. Sequence

IEP Goal Targets:

• Cooperation

• Decision-making

• Negotiation

• Inferences

• Flexible thinking

• Perspective taking

13. Othello (Reversi)

IEP Goal Targets:

• Explaining reasoning

• Perspective taking

• Cognitive Flexibility

• Best for pairs or small groups

14. We’re Not Really Strangers

IEP Goal Targets:

• Perspective taking

• Interpreting emotions

• Respectful listening

• Responding appropriately

• Creating a safe space

15. Conversation Cubes

IEP Goal Targets:

• Initiating conversations

• Topic maintenance

• Asking questions

• Turn-taking

  Works for large groups & push in classes

16. Color Addict

IEP Goal Targets:

• Cognitive flexibility

• Turn-taking

• Rapid Naming

• Emotional Regulation

• Engagement

17. Spot It!

IEP Goal Targets:

• Joint attention

• Self-monitoring volume

• Emotional Regulation

• Processing social cues

18. SET

IEP Goal Targets:

• Explaining opinion

• Perspective taking

• Turn Taking

• Visual Perception

• Easy to Learn

  Can use with just 1-2 students

19. Qwirkle

IEP Goal Targets:

• Cooperative planning

• Turn Taking

• Perspective Taking

• Problem Solving

• Use across all ages

20. Qwiddler

IEP Goal Targets:

• Vocabulary

• Turn-taking

• Emotional Regulation

• Perspective taking

• Flexible thinking

21. Exploding Kittens

IEP Goal Targets:

• Emotional regulation

• Predictions

• Appropriate humor

• Perspective taking

22. Words Are Hard

IEP Goal Targets:

• Vocabulary

• Perspective taking

• Semantic categories

• Expressive language

23. Trash Pandas

IEP Goal Targets:

• Flexible thinking

• Decision-making

• Explaining choices

• Emotional Regulation

24. Sushi Go

IEP Goal Targets:

• Reading social cues

• Inferences

• Group awareness

• Turn-taking

25. Diary of a Wimpy Kid

    10-second Challenge

IEP Goal Targets:

• Quick responses

• Perspective taking

• Repairing communication breakdowns

• Problem solving

• Teaching "less is more"

Games have a place in secondary speech therapy

These games support turn-taking, perspective taking, emotional regulation, cooperative problem solving, and conversational repair. As long as they are not overused, they can be especially effective for middle and high school students working on pragmatic and social communication goals in both small-group and classroom-based therapy. Links may include affiliate links.

Did I miss your favorite? Email me at info@ddvspeech.com and let me know what else should be on this list.

SLP-A & Intern Gift Ideas

Check out these items that your coworkers will love, perfect for last minute or holiday gifts. Affiliate Links included.

SLP Canvas Tote Bag

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SLP Tumbler with Lid

Bold Pattern "I'm a Speech Pathologist What's your superpower?"

What SLPs really want to say but can't Coloring Book. This is a terrific gift!

SLP Coloring Book