Now that winter is
here, it is time to hang up your coats and play indoors. Don’t worry; this can
be just as fun as playing outside. The ideas below are starting points for your
family to continue to encourage language development for your child. Keep in mind that the best way for a child to
learn language is through playing in a language rich environment and remember:
always have fun!
1. Make
a craft as a family- Children love to make things; they are very proud of their
work. You can have your child follow directions, practice turn taking skills,
have them describe what they made to a different family member. When making
your crafts, remember to narrate what you are doing, what your child is doing.
2. Read
books-Reading is such an important way for children to develop language and new
vocabulary. Let your child be a part of the process, they will be more
motivated to follow through to the end of the book. When reading, make sure to
point out pictures, use different intonation, and ask questions along the way.
It is more than reading; it’s helping your child learn new concepts and
vocabulary.
3. Pretend
play- Make believing is a powerful tool that should not be forgotten. Pretend
play allows your child to use their imagination and creativity. Take out some
toys and have fun with them; whether you are making something to eat, playing
house with dolls, or fixing cars and trucks that are broken in a garage you
made out of pillows. Engage with your child and play alongside them.
4. Build
a fort- This seems simple, but a lot of language can be incorporated when
building a fort. You can have your child follow directions to build the fort.
You can use different aspects of language such as prepositions to work on
putting things under, in, or on top of the fort and take things out of the
fort. Who doesn’t like to build a fort?
5. Play
board games- Gather your family around the table and play a board game
together. Board games are full of language and can help your child with
matching, following directions, counting, and answering questions. Board games are also a very social activity;
e.g. helping your child learn turn taking skills.
Winter can be long and boring, but don’t let it get
you down. I would love to hear more of what our readers are doing with their
children. What are some of your favorite indoor winter activities that you and
your family enjoy?
By Jeannine Abel,
M.A., CFY-SLP
Labels: Parents
