Make a list of game formats that are appropriate for young learners. Complicated games, such as crosswords and seek-a-words, are too complex for young learners who have not yet mastered the alphabet. Appropriate game formats for young learners include simple flashcard games, puzzles and videogames.
Compile a list of objectives for the age group of the children you are designing the game for. Toddlers should focus on learning to pronounce their name and other simple words while 3- to 4-year-olds should build a simple vocabulary of words and phrases. Preschoolers should learn to recite the alphabet and read simple sentences.
Study existing games that teach early literacy learning objectives to kids and ask yourself what these games have in common. Flashcard games ask kids to recite the name of the image depicted on a card. Puzzles get kids to put images together using clues. The common elements to these games include simplicity and an emphasis on getting children to read simple words and phrases.
Determine the format that your games will take. Options include flashcard games, puzzles, trivia games and seek-a-words. Design games that keep in mind the age and ability of the students. Seek-a-words games, for example, are appropriate for kids who have mastered the alphabet, while flashcard games are appropriate for kids who are learning simple vocabulary.
Write the rules for your games. The rules of a game govern how the game is played and scored. Since early literacy games are mostly simple quizzes or puzzles, the rules will mostly consist of basic principles for scoring the game. For a quiz, assign a certain number of points for correct answers (negative points for incorrect answers is optional). For a puzzle or seek-a-word, no scoring system is needed.
Make the components of your game using card stock, markers and rulers. Card stock is a kind of thick, cardboard-like paper that can be purchased at office supply stores. Images and words can be drawn on card stock using markers and rulers. If you want to cut out flashcards or other components, trace the shapes you want to cut out and cut them with scissors. If you have a printer that can print on card stock, you can design flashcards using MS Word and the software program MS Paint; simply design the images in paint, select "post card" under label options in word, then copy the paint images into the word file.