Indoor activities to enhance language this winter
Now that winter is here, it is time to hang up your coats and play indoors. Don’t worry; this can be just as fun as playing outside. The ideas below are starting points for your family to continue to encourage language development for your child. Keep in mind that the best way for a child to learn language is through playing in a language rich environment and remember: always have fun!
1. Make a craft as a family- Children love to make things; they are very proud of their work. You can have your child follow directions, practice turn taking skills, have them describe what they made to a different family member. When making your crafts, remember to narrate what you are doing, what your child is doing.
2. Read books-Reading is such an important way for children to develop language and new vocabulary. Let your child be a part of the process, they will be more motivated to follow through to the end of the book. When reading, make sure to point out pictures, use different intonation, and ask questions along the way. It is more than reading; it’s helping your child learn new concepts and vocabulary.
3. Pretend play- Make believing is a powerful tool that should not be forgotten. Pretend play allows your child to use their imagination and creativity. Take out some toys and have fun with them; whether you are making something to eat, playing house with dolls, or fixing cars and trucks that are broken in a garage you made out of pillows. Engage with your child and play alongside them.
4. Build a fort- This seems simple, but a lot of language can be incorporated when building a fort. You can have your child follow directions to build the fort. You can use different aspects of language such as prepositions to work on putting things under, in, or on top of the fort and take things out of the fort. Who doesn’t like to build a fort?
5. Play board games- Gather your family around the table and play a board game together. Board games are full of language and can help your child with matching, following directions, counting, and answering questions. Board games are also a very social activity; e.g. helping your child learn turn taking skills.
Winter can be long and boring, but don’t let it get you down. I would love to hear more of what our readers are doing with their children. What are some of your favorite indoor winter activities that you and your family enjoy?
By Jeannine Abel, M.A., CFY-SLP