Language Development
Whether your tot is a babbler or mum's the word, learn about her speech development.
Abbreviate It
Abbreviate ItTime 10 to 15 minutes Materials None Directions Teach the concept of abbreviating in a playful way. One of you thinks of two letters that the other has to turn into a phrase that matches the abbreviation. For example, FS could mean "feeling silly." Keep going as long as you can without getting stumped. Extensions read more
Activities for Age Three
Activities for Age ThreeThese activities will enrich children's language development and enhance emergent math and literacy skills. Building Reading Skills Literature read more
Anagrams Activity
Anagrams ActivityAnagrams are pairs or groups of words that use exactly the same letters in different order, for example: pills/spill and eat/tea. Directions read more
Backward Day
Backward DayTime All day Materials Common items used for self-care Directions Do your day backward. For example, you might begin the day with dinner, brush your teeth before you eat, put on your shoes before your shirt, or comb your hair and then mess it up. Extensions read more
Backwords
BackwordsDirections Choose a word, then challenge your child to reverse the letters of the word (in his head or on paper) and say it backward. For example, tree becomes eert, car becomes rac, and so on. If you like, start with simple one-syllable words. As your child becomes more skilled at this game, challenge him to reverse words with digraphs (pairs of letters, such as sh, that each represent a single sound), words with silent letters, multisyllabic words, and complete sentences. read more
Characteristics Checklist for Asperger's Syndrome: Language Skills
Print out and use this checklist to help in an initial diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome in your child. You can find more checklists on Asperger's syndrome here. read more
Could Meningitis Cause Slurred Speech?
A problem with speech is probably not related to a central nervous system infection during the first month of life. read more
Curious George's Opposites
Build young children's vocabulary and teach them about opposites with this illustrated Curious George activity. read more
Curious George's Transportation
Explore the many ways Curious George traveled during his adventures. This printable activity uses illustrations to review transportation vocabulary. read more
Delayed Speech Development
A parent seeks help for her son, aged two years nine months, who has delayed speech development. read more
Denotation/Connotation
The vocabulary words used in this lesson stem from realism literature. Students are asked to explore the denotated/connotated meanings of the words in several activities. read more
Describing Letter to Parents
This letter to be sent home to parents suggests some activities for them to do with their child to enhance describing skills. read more
Describing Letter to Parents - Spanish Version
This letter (in Spanish) to be sent home to parents suggests some activities for them to do with their child to enhance describing skills. read more
Dictionary Name Game
Dictionary Name Game Required: Dictionary Pen and paper What's in a name? A great opportunity for learning new words—with the help of a dictionary. read more
Ear Infections and Language Development
Ear Infections and Language Development Otitis media, an inflammation of the middle ear (behind the eardrum), is one of the most common illnesses of childhood. There are two different types of otitis media. Either can occur in one or both ears. read more
Flashlight Fun for Toddlers
Flashlight Fun for ToddlersMaterials Flashlight Directions Shine a flashlight on different parts of a room: a wall, the door, the floor, and so on. Each time you shine the light on an object, name it: for example, "This is the bed." Show your child how to turn the flashlight on and off. Let her shine it on various objects and name them. Give her directions to follow, such as "Shine the light on the ceiling." read more
Foreign Languages and English Grammar
Exposure to more than one language will reinforce mastery of syntax for gifted students. read more
Fun with Words
Fun with WordsDirections Ask your child to tell you what certain words mean to him. Pick out everyday words that he has likely heard before. Some suggestions to get you started: concrete, marriage, retire, divorce, bachelor, anniversary, occasion, special, obedient, country. You may be surprised to find that some of the words in your child's vocabulary are something of a mystery to him. Some of the answers you get will be priceless; write them down for posterity! read more
Hand in Glove
Pick a word from each hand and match it to a glove, to form words that always seem to go together. read more
Homeschooling and Speech Disability
Speech programs tend not to be particularly helpful. Maturity is the biggest factor for attaining clear speech. read more
How to Have a Conversation with Your Three-Year-Old
How to Have a Conversation with Your Three-Year-Old Your child's improving language skills, combined with his increased attention span, makes sustained conversations possible at age three. And the more conversation, the better. Your modeling of good language skills is more important than ever. read more
How to Help a Preschooler Who Stutters
How to Help a Preschooler Who Stutters You may be concerned if your preschooler starts to stutter and stammer a lot. Don't worry about it. Stuttering and stammering are common at this age due to the lag between a three-year-old's ability to think and his ability to form words. Especially when he's excited or upset, your child's ideas will probably out race his vocabulary. read more
How Well Do You Know Preschoolers?
Take our quiz to find out if you have the right expectations for your three- or four-year-old. read more
I Spy Word Recognition
I Spy Word RecognitionDirections This word game can help develop your child's shape and color recognition skills. As you drive or walk along, say "I spy with my little eye something that is orange," or "... something that is square." Your child will have fun guessing what it is you see. Take turns guessing what the other sees. read more
Imagine That!
Imagine a different first letter on each word in this word game, and you'll get a completely different thing! read more
Language Play
Language PlayDirections Learn simple words in different languages. Teach your child to count to ten in other languages and to say simple words like "hello," "good-bye," and "thank you." Have a theme day when you locate a country on the map and talk about the unique aspects of its location. Talk about the language spoken there and, if possible, learn several words in that language. Serve a special lunch or snack that originated, or is popular, in that country. read more
Linguistic Quick Tips
Linguistic Quick TipsYou can help your children continue to develop their word smarts by:Taking them on frequent trips to the library. Making sure they have access to a variety of books and, if possible, books with read-along cassettes. Asking them to keep a journal or diary. Asking them to write and read aloud a summary of your family's weekly activities. read more
Magic Bag
Magic BagTime 10 to 15 minutes Materials Old purseSmall items that can't be swallowed, like model cars, playing cards, animal cookies, old key sets, little books Directions Your child will want to share the wonder of each discovery if you fill a purse with the small items (that are too big to be swallowed) and sit down to watch your child remove them.Talk about each item that emerges. Extensions read more
