What’s Featured This Week?
Did you know you can support your child’s language development during almost any daily activity or routine? If you’re looking for a new and creative way to keep your quarantine full of fun, try out our Household Routine of the Week: Washing Dishes! If your little one likes to play with water, head on over to the sink, bathtub, or a container filled with water and try out some of these play ideas. As always, you can try to use some of the example words and phrases in italics while you play!
Splash Away!
Drop dishes in the sink and splash around. (The dishes are in. We’re splashing. I got wet!)
- Fill a cup with water and then dump it out. Add small blocks or plastic animals in there, scoop them with a cup and then dump them back out. You can also practice pouring between two cups. (The cup is full. Now it’s empty. We’re pouring. They’re in the cup.)
- Your child has watched you wash the dishes, and now it’s their turn! Squeeze some soap in (or just pretend), give them a sponge and a dish towel, and they are ready to wash. (The soap is in the water. The plates are dirty. We’re washing them. The plates are wet.)
- The water doesn’t have to be reserved for dishes. Use it to clean dolls, little animals, or cars. (The car drove through mud. It’s dirty. You’re washing the car. The car is clean.)
Tip of the Week: Notice moments to teach language
When teaching children language, it’s important to be thoughtful about both what words you say and when you say them. Using language that matches what your child is paying attention to will make the words more meaningful for your child. Notice things that your child finds comment-worthy and use content-rich words to talk about them. For example, if you notice your child is interested in a soapy cup you’re washing, hold up the cup and say, “cup.” In addition to naming an object, you can also describe its location, what it looks like, what it’s doing, and more!
Additional Ideas
Looking for some more fun things to do around the house?
- Listen to Stories Podcast – A Free Children’s Story Podcast for Bedtime
- Watch a Virtual Viewing of: Disney’s “Magic Happens” Parade
- Listen to Josh Gad (Beauty and the Beast, Frozen) read Waiting is Not Easy! by Mo Willems
- Play Freeze Dance with Abby Cadabby (Sesame Street)
Learn More
twitter.com/joshgad/status/1247300719654232065
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