title: How to Adapt Board Games to Make Them Accessible for People with Down Syndrome
description: Practical guide to adapting board games to the abilities of people with Down syndrome: simplifying rules, visual aids, material adaptations, and selecting inclusive games for successful fun moments.
keywords: board games Down syndrome, adapt games Down syndrome, adapted games disability, inclusive games Down syndrome, simplify game rules, accessible games Down syndrome
[/META]
Down syndrome, board games, adaptation, inclusion, leisure, adapted games, accessibility
[/TAGS]
Reading time: 18 minutes
"My son wants to play with his siblings, but he doesn't understand the rules." "She gives up quickly because it's too complicated." "How do we adapt games without making them too simple for others?" "Are there games specifically designed for people with Down syndrome?"
Board games are much more than entertainment: they develop cognitive skills (memory, logic, attention), social skills (waiting for one's turn, following rules, managing victory and defeat), and create valuable family bonding moments. For people with Down syndrome, participating in board games is essential for inclusion and personal growth.
However, complex rules, texts to read, and abstract strategies can make some games inaccessible. The good news? With a few simple and creative adaptations, almost all games can become inclusive, allowing the whole family to play together in fun and fairness.
This guide provides you with concrete strategies to adapt board games and create successful fun moments.
Table of Contents
Why Adapt Board Games? {#why-adapt}
Benefits of Board Games
Cognitive Development:
- Memory, attention, logic
- Counting, color recognition, shapes
- Strategy, anticipation
- Waiting for one's turn
- Following rules
- Accepting loss, congratulating the winner
- Cooperation (cooperative games)
- Quality time together
- Laughter, complicity
- Creating memories
- "I play like everyone else"
- Feeling of belonging
Social Skills:
Family Bonding:
Inclusion:
Obstacles Without Adaptation
Too Complex Rules: Does not understand the steps, gets lost.
Text to Read: If reading is limited, cannot play.
Abstract Strategies: Too difficult to anticipate.
Too Long Duration: Limited attention, fatigue.
Small Pieces: Difficulties with fine motor skills.
Result: Frustration, abandonment, exclusion.
But with adaptations: Fun, success, inclusion!
General Principles of Adaptation {#principes}
1. Simplify the Rules
Keep the essence of the game, remove secondary rules.
Example (Monopoly):
2. Use Visual Aids
Pictograms, images, photos to replace or complement text.
Visual memory aid: poster with the steps of a turn, possible actions.
3. Reduce Duration
Limit the number of turns, set a maximum time.
Example: "We play 10 turns, then we count the points."
4. Encourage Cooperation
Cooperative games: everyone wins or loses together (no stressful competition).
Play in teams: the person with Down syndrome with a partner.
5. Adapt the Material
Enlarge cards, tokens.
Use tokens that are easier to handle (large, wooden).
Simplify the board (fewer visual elements).
6. Be Flexible
Accept mistakes, do not be rigid about the rules.
The goal = fun, not fierce competition.
Concrete Adaptations {#adaptations}
Rule Adaptation
1. Reduce the Number of Rules
Keep only the essentials.
Example (Uno):
2. Eliminate Complex Choices
Reduce the number of decisions each turn.
Example: Instead of "You can do X or Y or Z", offer "You do X".
3. Play in Teams
Pairing: the person with Down syndrome with a sibling or parent.
Discuss choices together, but let the person with Down syndrome decide last.
4. Remove Reading
If cards have text: Someone reads aloud for everyone.
Or use games without text (based on images, colors).
Material Adaptation
1. Enlarge Elements
Print larger cards (A4 instead of card size).
Enlarge tokens (use figurines, large chips).
2. Color Coding
Associate a color with each player (tokens, cards) to facilitate identification.
3. Visual Memory Aid
Create a laminated sheet with:
Display next to the player.
4. Visual Aids for Counting
Visual score tracker (ruler, tokens to move) instead of written score.
5. Special Dice
Dice with colored dots, dice with pictograms.
Or limit to one die (instead of 2).
Duration Adaptation
1. Short Games
Set a time: "We play for 15 minutes" or "5 turns each".
2. Simplified Objectives
Example (racing game):
3. Breaks
If the game is long: Take breaks (get up, drink, move).
Competition Adaptation
1. Cooperative Games
Examples of cooperative games:
Everyone plays together against the game.
2. Value Participation
Congratulate playing, not just winning.
"Well done for playing well!" even if lost.
3. Variant "Everyone Wins"
At the end, count the points of ALL players added together.
"We scored 50 points together, that's great!"
Naturally Accessible Games {#accessible-games}
Games of Chance (Little Strategy)
1. Dice Games
Yams, Laughing Pig, Little Horses.
Based on chance: no cognitive disadvantage.
2. Goose Game
Simple: Roll the dice, move forward.
Varied themes (animals, princesses, cars).
3. Lotto, Bingo
Visual recognition, few rules.
Memory Games
Memory
Flip cards, find pairs.
Accessible: people with Down syndrome can be very strong!
Speed Games
Dobble
Find the common symbol between two cards.
Visual, fast, fun.
Jungle Speed (if motor skills are sufficient)
Cooperative Building Games
Jenga (tower to build together)
Kapla (free constructions)
Simple Card Games
Battle
Compare numbers: who has the highest?
Uno (simplified version)
7 Families (with clear images)
Adapted Cooperative Games
Little Cooperation (Djeco)
Very simple, cooperative, for young children (but adapted for people with Down syndrome).
Orchard (Haba)
Roll the dice, pick fruits before the crow arrives.
Sensory Games
Touch and Find
Recognize objects by touch in a bag.
Smell and Sound Lotto
Tips for Successful Games {#tips}
Before Playing
1. Choose the Right Time
Avoid: When tired, upset, rushed.
Prefer: Calm afternoon, weekend.
2. Explain the Rules Simply
Short sentences, simple vocabulary.
Show rather than explain (do a sample turn).
Check understanding: "Show me what you do."
3. Get Comfortable
Clear table, enough space.
Appropriate chair, correct lighting.
During the Game
1. Support Without Doing It for Them
Guide: "It's your turn. What do you do?"
Give time to think, do not rush.
Help if stuck, but encourage autonomy.
2. Maintain Motivation
Positive encouragement: "Well played!" "You're improving!"
Laughter, lightness, do not take too seriously.
3. Manage Frustration
If upset, break: "Let's take a break, let's breathe."
Normalize losing: "It's normal to lose, it happens to everyone."
4. Adapt in Real Time
If too difficult: Simplify further.
If too easy: Add a rule.
Flexibility.
After the Game
1. Value Participation
"It was great to play with you!"
No matter who won, the important thing = the shared moment.
2. Clean Up Together
Learn to clean up the game (sorting, organizing).
3. Suggest Playing Again
"Did you enjoy it? We can play again soon!"
Create a routine (e.g., board game every Saturday afternoon).
Create Your Own Adaptations
Make Supports
Computer + printer:
Laminating for durability.
Modify Existing Games
Example: Uno
Stick a memory aid on the box.
Invent House Rules
No need to follow official rules!
Create your own variants adapted to your family.
Resources and Communities
Websites and Associations
Ludomieux: Association offering game adaptations for disabilities.
Hoptoys: Store for adapted games and toys (online catalog).
Parent forums: Exchange adaptation ideas (Facebook groups, Trisomy 21 France forums).
Game Libraries
Some game libraries have "adapted games" sections.
Borrow before buying (test).
Create an Inclusive Game Club
Organize game afternoons with other families (children with Down syndrome + neurotypical).
Socialization + sharing experiences.
Conclusion: Playing Together is Possible
Board games are not reserved for neurotypical people. With simple adaptations - simplifying rules, visual aids, flexibility - people with Down syndrome can fully participate and thrive in these fun moments.
The keys to success:
1. Simplify the rules (keep the essentials)
2. Use visual aids (pictograms, memory aids)
3. Choose accessible games (chance, memory, cooperative)
4. Adapt the material (enlarge, simplify)
5. Be flexible and kind
6. Value participation more than victory
Playing together creates memories, strengthens bonds, and develops skills. Do not deprive your loved one of these precious moments. Adapt, and play!
DYNSEO Resources to Complement Games: *
Playing together means growing together. Adapt games, and offer your loved one moments of joy, sharing, and pride.*
