If you want to turn spelling into a challenge akin to Scrabble but with less trauma (you don’t need to interlock words, just create them), Quiddler is a terrific little card game. In our house, Caitrin even played before she could read! How? We helped her. She would put her cards out and we’d talk about the ways you could make words from her letters. Her drive to play this game actually helped her learn to read and has been critical to helping her spell.
We often play “open hand” when a child is stuck and can’t think of what to do with his or her cards. So don’t feel the need to turn the game into ruthless competition (unless you enjoy that kind of thing!). Take a break from handwriting and play Quiddler instead.
For more information about Quiddler, check out this link.