Activities

Receptive Language Activities: Nouns

Sometimes we need to do concrete activities targeting a particular skill, as language learning is not easy for all children.

Receptive vocabulary means the number and type of words a child understands. E.g he might know how to use a comb, but does he know the word for that object is comb? Or he might do the action of opening and closing, but does he understand the words for that action?

So if he a child does things independently but does not do the same when you ask him to/ or give an instruction that means he has a weak receptive vocabulary.

Here are some fun activities for the same

1. Sticker Fun

MATERIALS: Stickers and 2 adults

METHOD: One adult will name the object and hand over the sticker to the child. The other adult will guide the child and help him/her put the sticker on that object. After practice for a couple of days, child can be guided to do it independently. Select a minimum of 5 target words for a week. Select new words after the child understands the previous target.

2. Powder Game

MATERIALS: Powder

METHOD: Take powder and apply on various body parts. Name the body parts as you put the powder Take turns with the child in naming and putting powder. You name the body part and let the child put it on your body.

3. Find The Object

MATERIALS: boxes and objects

METHOD: put one object per box.Hand over the box to the child, let them open and remove the object. Name the object the child has found. Let them explore it for a while and then hand over the other box.

NOTE: Choose objects which are of high interest to the child to make it engaging. Follow the child’s lead. For e.g instead of opening the box the child might want to put things in the box and close it. Or the child might want to put stickers on himself. Do not force the child. Do the activities till the interest last. Do not over do!

Receptive Language Activities: Verbs

There are many activities where you can introduce multiple verbs together. However here I would like to focus on one verb per activity to ensure the child understands the concept. Refer to my previous post to know what receptive vocabulary is.

Verb: A verb is a word used to describe an action.

1. Open

MATERIALS: child’s favourite toys and anything that can be opened or closed in the house.

METHOD: Hide your child’s favourite toys in the cupboard, fridge, bathroom, cabinet, box etc. Guide them to play the searching game with you. Pretend the ball is missing, take them to the cabinet, tell them OPEN it. Stress on the word OPEN. Once they find out the hidden toy, move on to the next object. Let them collect the toys in a basket. Same way you guide them to OPEN Fridge, cupboard, box, door, etc.

2. Put

MATERIALS: Objects around the house, and a basket.

METHOD: The adult will assist the child in carrying the basket.
The adult will assist the child in putting things at their respective places by using the word put.
E.g. fruits and vegetables. Take two of each. Guide them to PUT in the designated basket, use the word PUT.
Take toiletries like toothbrush, toothpaste and ask them to PUT in their designated place.
Ask them to PUT items in a purse.

3.Give

MATERIALS: objects that the child doesn’t like.

METHOD: The adult will hand over the object to the child and ask him to give to each family member by using the word: Let’s GIVE it.

E.g the child doesn’t like medicines. Collect the medicine bottles. Ask them to GIVE each bottle to the family members one by one. Every time use the word GIVE. This can also be a pretend play game where the child is a doctor, and giving medicine to each soft toy.

Receptive Language Activities: Adjectives

Adjective is a word that describes a person/object/place or feeling.

1. Sorting

A good pre math skill, helps a child differentiate between objects based on their appearance.

MATERIALS: Big and small things around the house. (big spoon vs small spoon). Start with similar objects and then add different objects.

METHOD: take 5 big and small spoons each.
Show the child how to segregate them based on their size. Put big spoon in one basket and small in another. Show the object to the child. Label it is big and show with a gesture and guide them to put in the appropriate basket. Repeat the same thing for small. Then let the child try independently. Guide when required.

2. Clean up

A good pre math skill, helps a child differentiate between objects based on their appearance.

MATERIALS: Big and small things around the house. (big spoon vs small spoon). Start with similar objects and then add different objects.

3. Feel it!

MATERIALS: a tub of lukewarm water and a tub of cold water. Napkins

METHOD: dip the napkins in hot or cold water. Let the child feel it, squeeze it, and put it on their body. And talk about feeling hot or cold. It’s a sensory experience and kids thoroughly enjoy it. Just be careful about the temperature of lukewarm water.

Receptive Language Activities: Prepositions

Prepositions: the words used to describe the location of an object, person or place.

1. Park Time

MATERIALS: just your child and you! Visit to the park!

METHOD: Talk about going UP as your child is climbing the stairs. Take a picture of him once he has reached UP. This can be used later at home to talk about up and down. Say DOWN! As your child slides DOWN!

Same thing can be done on the seesaw! Remember to click pictures!

2. Crawl And Climb!

MATERIALS: Chairs and favourite objects

METHOD: place the chairs in a line. Leave some space in between. Place child’s favourite objects ON and UNDER the chairs.

Tell them you’ll are playing a rescue game and they have to collect all the objects!
Talk about ON and UNDER as they climb on and crawl under to collect the objects.

3. Animal Houses

MATERIALS: Animal figurines and blocks

METHOD: make houses with blocks and keep them ready. Give the child animal figurines and let them place animals “IN” their house. Describe to them how the animals are “IN” their houses. When the child takes the animals “OUT” talk about how they are “OUT” to hunt or play!