To make a sentence, a child has to put words in an order that makes sense. It sounds simple to us, but it is a big step for a five-year-old: they must hold a whole thought in mind and build it word by word. In this game Golu shows three or four big word cards, each with a small picture where one helps (I, see, a, cat). The cards are mixed up. Your child taps them in order, each word flies into its place in the sentence line, and when the last word lands the full sentence is read aloud with a picture: "I see a cat."
What children learn from sentence making
- Word order. English sentences follow a pattern: who, then what they do, then the rest. "I see a cat" makes sense; "cat see I a" does not.
- Words are separate. Each card is one word. Children see the spaces between words, which helps later when they write.
- Capital letter and full stop. The first card starts with a capital ("The", "A", "I"), and the finished sentence ends with a full stop. Point this out once or twice; it sinks in.
- Sight words. Small words like I, see, a, the, can, is, my come up again and again. These are the sight words children learn to read at a glance.
- Meaning in two languages. After each English sentence, the Hindi meaning is shown and spoken, for example "मुझे एक बिल्ली दिखती है।"
How to play
- Choose English or Hindi at the top.
- Golu says, "Tap the words in order to make a sentence." Tap 🔊 to hear it again.
- Your child taps the first word. If it is right, it moves up into the first empty box and is spoken.
- If a card is tapped too early, it gives a small wobble, Golu says the word that was tapped and asks, "Which word comes next?" After a second try the right card glows, and after a third a hand points to it.
- When the sentence is complete, the picture appears, the sentence is read in full, and the meaning is given in the other language. Tap ▶ for the next sentence.
- After a few sentences, a marble drops into the Goli Jar.
The sentences in this game
The English sentences are short and built from easy words: I see a cat. I eat a mango. The dog can run. A fish can swim. I love my mom. The sun is hot. I have a ball. I see the moon. Most have four words, so the child can hold the whole sentence in mind.
The Hindi tab has sentences in natural Hindi word order, which is different from English: बिल्ली दूध पीती है। यह मेरा घर है। मोर नाचता है। मैं आम खाती हूँ। गाय घास खाती है। सूरज चमकता है। बच्चा पतंग उड़ाता है। मछली पानी में है। In Hindi the action word comes near the end and the sentence ends with है or हूँ and a पूर्ण विराम (।).
| English | Hindi | |
|---|---|---|
| Order | who + action + thing (I eat a mango) | who + thing + action (मैं आम खाती हूँ) |
| Ending mark | full stop (.) | पूर्ण विराम (।) |
| Capital letter | first word starts with a capital | no capitals in Hindi |
Children in bilingual homes find this comparison interesting, and it explains why they sometimes mix up word order when they switch languages.
Sentence making at home in 5 minutes
Jumbled words at the table
Write three or four words on scraps of paper: I / like / milk. Mix them up and let your child arrange them. Read the result together, even if it is silly ("milk like I!"), and laugh before fixing it.
Body sentences
Each family member holds one word card and stands in a line. Your child is the director and moves people until the sentence is right. It is a lively way to practise jumbled sentences for class 1.
Picture talk
Look at a picture in a book and ask your child to make a sentence about it: "The cat is sleeping." Then say the sentence back with one word missing and see if they spot it. The simple sentences page has a picture reader for this.
Hindi vakya banao
Play the same game in Hindi: "पानी / मैं / पीता / हूँ". Ask your child to say the वाक्य the right way. You can use action words for new verbs.
What to expect by age
| Age / class | Sentence skill |
|---|---|
| 3-4 | Speaks in short sentences; can repeat a four-word sentence |
| 4-5 (LKG) | Orders 3 picture cards with help; knows "I" and "a" |
| 5-6 (UKG) | Orders 3-4 word cards alone; reads the sentence with pointing |
| 6-7 (class 1) | Rearranges the words to make a sentence on paper; adds a capital letter and full stop |
No pressure, lots of talk
Sentence making grows from talking. The more your child hears full sentences in everyday talk, the easier this game becomes. Describe what you are doing ("I am cutting the apple"), and invite them to do the same.
If your child gets frustrated, tap the 🔊 button and listen together, or do just one sentence and stop. Praise effort: "You found the first word by yourself!" For children with speech delay, tapping the cards is valuable even when they cannot yet say the sentence; say it for them and let them point to each word. Autistic children often enjoy the fixed, predictable layout.
Use screens in short sessions with a grown-up nearby, and follow up with paper word cards. For under-twos, real talk and real objects are far better than any screen.
Once your child can make a sentence easily, try adding a word: "I see a big cat." Children love to make sentences longer.
