I love to go back in time by watching videos from my children’s past. They are only three and five, but their infant and toddler days still seem like so long ago, and it is heart-warming to reflect on how they have changed even in the few short years they have been alive.
Children also like to watch videos of themselves. They can be home videos of years gone past or videos made of them playing just a few minutes beforehand. There is simply something about seeing themselves recorded on video that captures their attention. Use this interest to help your child evaluate their own expression and fluency.
You don’t need to do any formal lessons, checklists or tests to complete this activity. Simply record your child playing any form of play. Be sure you are close enough to pick up all of what is being said. It can be your child playing alone or your child engaging with a friend or two.
Try to record about five minutes of video. Break it up into several little mini play-sessions so that your child doesn’t get bored with watching five minutes of building with blocks.
When you have finished, sit down with your child to watch what you have recorded. Letting your child watch himself on video allows him the opportunity to hear himself speak. Watch it through once without any interruptions. Then, when you child shows interest in watching it again, perhaps the next day, draw his attention to any instances where his language could improve. For example, you may pause the video and say, “That doesn’t sound quite right when you said, ‘Those blocks is heavy.’ How do you think you should say that sentence next time?”
Try not to pause the video too many times as your child may quickly lose interest. However, encourage your child to point out mistakes. Also be sure to praise your child for correctly spoken sentences. Most importantly, have fun. Enjoy watching your child grow physically and in his language.
Read MoreNo Comments
Digg
Delicious
Favorites
Blogmarks
Magnolia
Google
Newsvine
Reddit
Technorati
Written by Laura on December 15, 2010
Last evening, my husband and I were treated to dinner by two gentlemen from England who my husband knows from work. Given their heritage, it is immediately clear that they speak quite differently than any native to America. It also doesn’t take very long to realize that a person could easily pick up words or accents after being around them for awhile. These new habits may make you stand o
No Comments
Digg
Delicious
Favorites
Blogmarks
Magnolia
Google
Newsvine
Reddit
Technorati
Written by Laura on July 19, 2010
It would probably seem a little weird to sit your preschooler down at a desk and require her to write or even dictate definitions and sentences in order to learn new vocabulary words. However, you may also wonder if your child will learn enough vocabulary through simple conversation. I believe that children gain the most through an approach that is somewhere in between these two extremes.
As inf
No Comments
Digg
Delicious
Favorites
Blogmarks
Magnolia
Google
Newsvine
Reddit
Technorati
Written by Laura on July 5, 2010
As parents, we want the best for our children. And, if you are reading this, you, like many parents, have taken an interest in providing the best possible foundation for your child before he enters kindergarten. You may already be practicing letters, numbers, shapes, colors, etc. with your child. However, many people overlook an obvious skill that is used, practiced, and learned on a daily basi
No Comments
Digg
Delicious
Favorites
Blogmarks
Magnolia
Google
Newsvine
Reddit
Technorati
Written by BRWI Staff on March 12, 2010
I have heard before that research indicates that children who learn a second language as a young child become better readers and writers once they enter the upper elementary grades. I have always wanted to give my children this wonderful gift of being able to communicate with people in a language other than their own first language. However, for some reason, I am procrastinating. I think to mys
No Comments
Digg
Delicious
Favorites
Blogmarks
Magnolia
Google
Newsvine
Reddit
Technorati
Written by Laura on October 23, 2009
As a parent of a young child, I am sure you have had more than one experience where your child has said something that you do not fully understand. Either the words have been pronounced incorrectly or your child may have used the word in such a way as it was not intended to be used. Either way, your child may not understand that she has made a mistake unless you correct her. There is no need to
No Comments
Digg
Delicious
Favorites
Blogmarks
Magnolia
Google
Newsvine
Reddit
Technorati
Written by BRWI Staff on September 25, 2009
