Enjoy this time together! This is a simple activity that doesn't require much planning or buying of materials but its loads of fun and will promote speech and language skills because it is meaningful and motivating to children. This activity was found on the Busy Toddler via Pinterest.
So, instead of the classic baking soda and vinegar volcanoes, this activity is adapted so that the baking soda is sprinkled into the cups of a muffin tin. Before sprinkling the baking soda, place drops of food coloring so they are hidden under the baking soda...hence- "Hidden Colors". This way, when you child pours vinegar into the cup, it not only fizzes and foams (which is awesome in itself) the color is revealed! So how do you use this activity to promote speech and language? While "playing" you will build vocabulary through self talk and parallel talk. Describe your actions using simple verbs, nouns and concepts words, for example, pour, in, bubble, wet, more, wow!. You can use expansion to extend your child's words into small phrases if he says "bubbles", you can say "Yes, I see red bubbles"... or "more bubbles". This type of indirect language facilitation is known to help language development. You can also work on communication temptations and prediction skills. Try saying "ohhhh" &"ahhh as it fizzes and foams. You can ask your child what color they think will appear and help them use that word to form a sentence. "I think the bubbles will turn red." or "The bubbles turned red!" . Prediction skills are something else you can target through asking questions such as "What color do you think it will be?" and modeling the correct response the first time around. For example, "I think it will be red." "What do you think?" Lastly, by now you know how I feel about taking pictures and creating books for facilitating narrative skills and creates memories! Valentine's Day means telling the people you care about how much you love and appreciate them and well, eating lots of chocolate! Here is a fun activity that you can do with your child and at the same time, work on speech and language skills.
Remember to use beautiful and exciting language (adjectives) and expose your child to new vocabulary throughout this activity. I have a copy in my office. Please let me know if you would like to borrow it. Thumbsucking past a certain age can have negative effects to your child's teeth, mouth and face shape, as well as their speaking and eating development. Read this book, that was written for both parents and therapists as well as older children in mind. This book explains why and how to stop thumb sucking with common sense procedures including detailed suggestions for application for everyday life.
I have a copy in my office - Please let me know if you would like to borrow. Language is so much more than just words, and healthy communication is the foundation of a child's ability to succeed emotionally, socially, and academically. The first 8 years of life represent a critical period language and literacy development, and parents/caregivers are a child's primary role as he or she begins to acquire speaking, reading and writing skills. Beyond Baby Talk is here to guide readers through the easiest and most engaging ways to instill strong communication skills in children and to provide fun for caregivers and children along the way.
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June 2019
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