Sensory Language
Young children learn new vocabulary words by hearing them as they are used in conversation. Parents do not need to make flashcards (which the children couldn’t read anyway) or drill children with lists of words found in a vocabulary book. Children naturally pick up new words when they hear them. Most parents have experienced just how quickly children can learn a new word and use it in their own conversations. Unfortunately, we notice this the most when they repeat something we wish we hadn’t said in front of them.
Although there are no drills or practice sheets parents need to do with their children to develop vocabulary, there are activities that can be completed with allow children to experience new vocabulary in a play setting. Try this simple activity with your own children to introduce them to new words and to get them using words they may have only heard once or twice:
Begin by gathering an assortment of textured items. This could include cotton balls, sand paper, soft fabric scraps, styrofoam pieces, wood, sticks, rocks, or leaves, aluminum foil, burlap, or anything else you can come up with. As your child explores each item, ask your child to describe it. Help your child by providing new words such as rough, smooth, soft, sharp, hard, scratchy, heavy, light, etc. Finally, try to place items in piles using a word. For example, you could put sticks, leaves and burlap in a “scratchy” pile.
Digg Delicious Favorites Blogmarks Magnolia Google Newsvine Reddit Technorati
Written by BRWI Staff on March 19, 2010
Not Found
Sorry, but you are looking for something that is not here.
