Resource Reviews: Connect Four
Note: All our reviews are based on clinical experience in face to face sessions with paediatric populations. We only review resources we have experience using, are well regarded in the speech language pathologist world, and have lots of uses in therapy sessions for numerous different therapy goals.
What is Connect Four?
Connect Four is a two-player strategy game where players take turns dropping colored discs (typically red and yellow) into a vertical grid. The goal is to get four discs in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally before the opponent. It is simple to play but requires strategy, making it appealing to both children and adults.
Age Range
Recommended age range is 5 years and up. Younger children (around 4-5) may need help with planning moves, but the game’s straightforward rules are easy to understand. Older children, teens, and adults also enjoy it because the strategy increases with experience.
Who Is Connect Four For?
Children with language or speech delays: It encourages verbal communication (e.g., turn-taking, requesting moves) and social interaction.
Children working on speech sound goals: It can be used to practice words with specific sounds in a structured but fun environment.
Kids with attention difficulties: It’s short enough to maintain interest but still requires focus, which can help build sustained attention.
Families wanting to support speech goals at home: It’s easy to learn, accessible, and encourages interaction between parents and children.
Who Is Connect Four Not For?
Very young children (under 4): They may struggle to understand the rules and purpose.
Children with severe motor difficulties: Handling small discs might be difficult, though adaptations (e.g., using larger tokens or Velcro grids) could help.
Children with severe cognitive delays: If the strategic element is too challenging, it might not be engaging for them without modifications.
Suggested Therapy Goals
Turn-taking and Social Skills
Teach turn-taking by having children wait and say “Your turn” or “My turn” before making a move.
Reinforce social interaction phrases like greetings, compliments (“Good move!”), or encouragement (“You’re close!”).
Speech Sound Practice
Use the game to practice words with target speech sounds (e.g., /s/, /r/, /k/).
For each turn, the child can say a word containing the target sound before placing their disc.
Expressive Language and Sentence Structure
Encourage sentence formation by asking children to describe their moves (e.g., “I’m putting my red disc in the third column”).
Use it to practice answering and asking questions: “Where will you go next?”
Vocabulary Building
Focus on words like colors, directions (up, down, left), position (first, second, last) during play.
Use the game to introduce new action verbs (drop, block, stack).
Problem-Solving and Planning Skills
Discuss strategies during gameplay, such as blocking the opponent’s row or planning to connect four.
Help children predict outcomes by asking questions: “What will happen if you go here?”
Extension Ideas for Home/Class
Color-Themed Speech Practice
Assign a different speech sound to each color disc. For example, if a child is working on /k/, they say a /k/ word before placing a yellow disc, and a /s/ word for red.
Two-Step Directions Practice
Give multi-step directions: “Put your red disc in the second column and say a sentence about your favourite food.”
Use this to improve listening skills and following instructions.
Story-Telling Prompts
After each turn, the child can add a sentence to build a story. For example, the first player says, “Once upon a time, a cat found a red balloon,” and the next player continues the story.
Homework Link
Create a speech homework sheet where the child must write down words or sentences they used during the game.
This encourages carryover of speech goals to different settings.
Final Thoughts
Fun Factor: 5/5. A quick to learn but hard to master game. Different strategies keep it engaging for older children and even adults.
Replayability: 4/5. Can become repetitive after a few games.
Adaptability to Therapy: 5/5. A fun way to work on more abstract concepts and sequencing skills.
Final Score: 4.7/5. Known as a classic for a reason!
Please note the above information is general in nature and is not intended as professional medical advice. Please seek an appointment with a registered speech-language pathologist if you are at all worried about your child's development.
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Suggested Resources
Connect Four Board Game
Connect Four is a classic game that is simple to learn but hard to amster. Great for working on more abstract rules and sequencing in an engaging environment! Click on the picture to find out more.