Some of the ways we can foster language development are to:
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Read or say nursery rhymes to your child so they can hear the rhythm and flow of our language. Related ONLINE ACTIVITY: Six popular Nursery Rhymes.
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Sing simple songs with them.
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Use body language in songs, stories, and in everyday activities (shrug your shoulders, shake your head, etc.)
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Name objects as you both look at them and...
- Set out a group of common objects and have your child name them and discuss different attributes (size, color, weight, shape).
- Name and touch body parts using rhymes, games, and songs.
- Group and name objects that go together.
- Ask your child riddles - children love to guess the answer.
- Related ONLINE ACTIVITY: Use our Animal Riddles or our Transportation Riddles.
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Introduce new words...
- Through stories.
- Through looking at magazines together and discussing them.
- On neighborhood walks.
- By making word cards with a word and its picture.
- Through lotto games (picture Bingo games found at children's gift stores).
- On signs in your environment.
- Related ONLINE ACTIVITY: Try our playful method of introducing new words. See: Word Puppies. Use our sample lesson about Alaska and create some of your own.
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Engage in one-to-one conversations between you and your child in which you...
- Model correct pronounciation and grammar (Don't always correct your child, simply restate their words using correct language. They will learn, slowly but surely.)
- Related ONLINE ACTIVITY: Model the correct way to describe Spatial Concepts such as up, down, over and under. Use our illustrations online or print and cut out a set of animals to place over, under, beside, and above things in your house.
- Model using complete sentences.
- Model listening and responding to each other.
- Model how to ask a question and how to answer.
- Related ONLINE ACTIVITY: Introduce and discuss Opposites.
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Engage in conversations about their likes and dislikes.
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Tell simple stories which involve the children responding.
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Read favorite stories over and over and then let your child tell them to you.
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Ask lots of open-ended questions (questions which cause them to think and which require more than a yes or no answer - for example: "How did you make that picture?").
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Play with your child and talk as you play...
- In the house.
- Outside.
- Using objects you have found to stimulate imaginative situations.
- Fill a box with objects and ask the child to tell who might own them (ex. a pizza wheel, spatula, fake pizza ingredients, pizza pan), then play with them.
- Related ONLINE ACTIVITY: Make a pizza online together. Talk about it and think of other ways to use the ingredients, such as making funny faces.
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Encourage writing activities.
- Record your child's favorite _____ (color, shape, animal, activity) and reread their answer to them next month. Discuss the changes and write down the new answers.
- Begin writing a poem and have them help you rhyme it.
- Have children predict what will happen in a certain situation and record it. Later, follow up and see if the predictions came true.
- Related ONLINE ACTIVITY: Encourage your child to "write" a story with your help. See our Young Writers Workshop for instructions and 48 free Story Starters.
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Model using words with sounds your child has a problem saying.
- Play word games using the sound.
- Each time you hear a word with the sound, you both repeat it.
- Notice when the sound is used correctly; do not notice incorrect usage.
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Parent's Guide
Introduction
Language Skills
Listening Skills
Writing Skills
Reading Skills
Social Skills
Thinking Skills
Math Skills
Back to Top
©1998, 2018, Susan Jindrich. All rights reserved.
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Downloadable versions of the following activities are available through the Meddybemps Store. These are for use without a computer and are optimized for printing. Many include additional material.
Animal Riddles
Spatial Concepts
Opposites
Story Starters
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