It is sort of funny to try and pick an activity that targets language development, because kids are so all over the board on this one. Miss I, for instance, talks a LOT. Since her Daddy and I met in Speech and Debate class this isn't exactly a shocker for us...she is also starting to talk back a lot which might merit its own post: "How Not To Kill A Sassy Two-Year-Old."
In all seriousness though, the process of acquiring language truly is incredible to watch, and while our kids are going to pick it up on their own, it is even more incredible to be an active part of that language acquisition. PLUS many studies show that our kids vocabulary skills today have actually decrease by 20% compared to 60 years ago. YIKES. And while I am the first to admit that English is a wonderful living language and we certainly have new words to use today than they had 60 years ago (how many two-year-olds in 1945 could have asked for "Angry Birds. Ipad. Now Please?" I still find it discouraging that we cannot continue to expand our language while holding onto many more of the elegant words from our past. Want a mind-bender article for adults on vocabulary? Click here and find out how expanding your vocabulary provides more than big words for writers and speakers, (after all, we are what we model to our kids right?)
My husband and I have always wanted a "talking house." A place where our family discusses everything and anything. Like they say, "if you build it, they will come." So let's start building today!
Receptive Vocabulary:
PBS Skill Targeted: "The average child has the capacity to acquire one or two words per day, given access to new words in his or her daily experiences."Activity:
Preposition Pete
Directions:
We have been working on preposition words at our house (and here the inner-English teacher rears her ugly head, remember what prepositions are? Anything you can be in relation to a fence. Seriously, this is the best way to remember them. IE you can be under a fence, over a fence, behind a fence, beside a fence...you get the idea."
Today Miss I and moi are going to target "under" and "beneath" (Side note- we worked on up and down last week and she snapped it right up, she now loves to point out anything that is up or down)
Find a Pete - for us this is any one of a thousand stuffed animals that we will call Pete for the day. Spend ten to twenty minutes placing Pete in various places around the house. Obviously, the places should match your target words. IE - Pete is under the table. After you place Pete the game goes like this:
Mama: "Where is Pete?"
Miss I: "hmmmm....there!"
Mama: "Yes! Good work looking with your eyes. You are right! Pete is under the table. Where is Pete?"
Miss I: "The table"
Mama: "Yes, under the table"
Eventually they will get it and start parroting it back. Then let your little one have a turn at placing Pete.
For bonus points you can be aware of your words all day and point out more things that are "under" or "beneath."
***NOTE - even if your kiddo doesn't start parroting the word back immediately, don't be discouraged. Some kids talk more than others at different ages. The important thing is that you are providing the words and they will be rattling around in that little brain from here on out, even if they aren't verbalized back to you, hence the title of this skill: RECEPTIVE vocabulary.
Language Comprehension:
PBS Skill Targeted: "Follows one- and two-step directions involving very familiar objects and actions (e.g., "Get your hat." "Put your book back on the shelf.", "Take off your mittens and tuck them in your hat.", "Pick up the book and bring it here.")"Activity:
Simon Says
Directions:
Remember this blast from your childhood past? Your kids today will love to play it with you too. Find ten minutes somewhere today and play an age appropriate version of Simon Says. Since Little Miss I is a wee one, we won't be trying to trick her into accidentally following or not following any directions in order to make her into the Simon, we are just working on understanding and following directions.
Everyone touches their nose.
"Simon says, hop on one foot!"
Everyone hops (and in our case probably falls over) on one foot.
"Simon says, take off your shoes."
You get the gist -
Now, Simon says go play!
Speech & Sound Perception
PBS Skill Targeted: "Begins to mimic the spoken language styles of familiar adults."Activity:
The Bear Sat Around With His Foot On The Ground
Directions:
Get ready to make your kid laugh, because they are going to think you are a nut. This is one of those good old campfire songs where you sing the same words again and again in different, goofy voices. Opera style, cowboy style, Swiss style, slow style, speedy style all make good choices. Your child may not totally understand what the different style titles mean, but they will note the changes in your voice, and that helps them become more perceptive to the way voice and sound can be used. PLUS who doesn't love a few minutes of being completely silly?
Here is the song:
"Oh the bear sat around with his foot on the ground,
Oh the bear sat around with his foot on the ground,
Oh the bear sat around with his foot on the ground,
Oh the bear sat around with his foot on the ground!
Sing that (style of music) song once more!" - than repeat in that style
Sharing Personal Experiences:
PBS Skill Targeted: "Adults must continue to provide guidance when helping a child share a personal experience. Children can increasingly provide more in response to initial questions, but many details still need prompting (e.g., "And where did we eat ice cream? Where were we?")"
Activity: Ivie and I are really working on language for her emotions. To read more about why it is important to help our kids understand, identify and label feelings look HERE.
"If You're Happy and You Know It."
Directions:
Use songs to practice feeling words. Your child’s language is just beginning to take off, so give her a fun way to practice by changing the words to songs like “When You’re Happy and You Know It.” Try adding new verses like,“When you’re angry and you know it, stomp your feet,”“When you’re sad and you know it, get a hug,”
Hats Tipped To a Vanderbilt education publication for this idea. We will definitely be stealing more of their moves in future posts. But if you want to jump the gun, you can find the whole source here.
Conversational Skills:
PBS Skill Targeted: "Takes turn in conversations when slot is left open by an adult's question. Child answers more readily now, but adult still must answer some of the questions asked."Activity:
(Easiest one of the day) Just find some quiet minutes throughout the day to talk to your toddler.
Directions:
Ask them about their favorite color. What toys they like today. Watch the world around you and talk about what you see out your own front window. "Do you see the man? What is he doing? Is he walking his dog? What color is his dog?"
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