Many parents
wonder: What should I be doing at home with my child to ensure he
learns at the same rate as his peers? The behaviors parents worry about
include expressive and receptive abilities, cognitive capabilities,
physical abilities, social play, and self-help activities. These
behaviors are the building blocks for growth and learning and they can
vary from child to child as they emerge over time. It is important to
remember that every child is different and will make gains at his/her
own pace. Here are eight suggestions for home play activities
that promote language.
- The single,
most important thing you can do with your child is read with
him. Look for books that have great illustrations, new vocabulary,
repetition, rhyming, and verse. Also, be sure to check
comprehension. As you read, ask your child simple questions to assess
whether he understands the plot.
- Always
talk to your child. Tell your child where you are going, what you
are going to do next, how you are going to get there, who you will
see. Use words that make the sequence clear (e.g. first, next, then)
and speak slowly and clearly. When you get home, review what you
did. Use and repeat new words.
- Expandyour child’s utterances. If he says, “juice,” you could say,
“You want more juice.” Instead of correcting your child’s grammar,
rephrase what he has said using the appropriate words.
- Sing
songs. Play word games. Blend words, change
sounds in words to make new words, or nonsense words. Have fun with
rhyming, poetry and nursery rhymes. These types of activities show
children how to manipulate words and sounds. They also demonstrate
how language can be fun while working on memory span and attention.
Older children may enjoy magnetic poetry games.
- Play
direction following games like “Simon Says.” Play “Twenty
Questions”. Sorting games, where the child puts items
into categories based on attributes are good for cognitive
development. Cook with your child. He can help count and
measure.
- Tell your
child nonsense stories in which he decides what doesn’t fit.
“What’s wrong with this picture or sequence” is a great activity for
expressive language and problem solving.
- Encourage
your child to retell favorite stories, or as he gets older, to
tell original stories. Use puppets, cut outs and Velcro boards to
make the telling more fun. Also, be sure to make use of facial
expression and miming. Play charades. Show your child that faces and
bodies can convey meaning too.
- Develop
critical thinking skills through predicting outcomes (What will
happen next?), discussing cause and effect relationships (If he fights
with his brother, what will happen?) and problem solving (What could
he have done instead?).
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