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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Using Sensory Play as a Tool for Language Acquisition



Using Sensory Play as a Tool for Language Acquisition
Although children respond to sensory experiences differently, participating in play that activates their senses can be therapeutic, improve motor skills, increase knowledge about how the world works and aid in language acquisition.

What Does Sensory Play Have to Do With Language Acquisition?
Consider that you can use descriptive words and questions related to the experience to help expand a child’s vocabulary. You can use verbs -- pour, sift, scoop, squish, poke and rub -- and adjectives -- hot, cold, silky, bumpy, wet, goopy, scratchy and soft -- to describe the actions your child performs with certain objects like sand, water, cloth, play dough, sandpaper and fur. This helps solidify the meanings of these words in your child’s young mind.

Use the following sensory play ideas to encourage language acquisition in your toddler:
  • Music toys: A colorful xylophone, tambourine and shaker stimulate your child’s sight and sense of touch. The sounds they make give your child a chance to create and hear music, which you can sing along with or describe with words such as high pitched, low pitched and catchy.
  • Bin of textured toys: The chance to feel and describe items with different textures is a great opportunity to link the words with their meanings.
  • Sound boxes: The idea with this activity is to shake the contents of each box and find its match. Part of the game is to guess what objects are inside the box and to describe the type of sound each object makes.
  • Shapes in a bag: This matching game encourages language acquisition because each shape matches a card with the shape written on it. You can take it one step further by asking language questions about each individual shape, such as "What sound does a truck make in real life? Honk, honk!"
  • Strangely textured creations: Not all sensory play is achieved with a toy you can buy. Some of the best sensory experiences come from recipes you make at home, such as cloud dough, slime, goop and homemade play dough. Check out PBS.org for easy-to-make recipes.
To learn more about importance of sensory play in language acquisition, please contact ListenLoveLearn today.

Image via Shutterstock.com
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

3 Simple Paper Plate Crafts Any Child Will Enjoy



Crafts for kids don’t have to be expensive or complicated. With just a few basic supplies, you can complete three simple paper plate crafts with your child. Check out Octavia and Vicky for pictures of the completed crafts.

Paper Plate Basket
Your child can use this creation to play pretend in a variety of ways. It’s super easy to make. You need:
  • 2 paper plates
  • Scissors
  • Stapler
  • Decorations, such as stickers and markers
To make this paper plate craft:
  • Cut a semi-circle of the same size out of each plate, leaving the outer edge intact for a handle.
  • With each plate facing inward, line up the cut-outs and staple the plates together around the rim.
  • Decorate the basket with stickers and markers. Load up the basket and be on your way!
Paper Plate Puppet
Hand puppets come in many shapes and sizes, and you can construct a quick, easy one with your child using the following supplies:
  • 2 paper plates
  • Scissors
  • 1 colored ribbon
  • Markers or stickers
  • Tape
To make this paper plate craft:
  • Fold one paper plate in half so the back of the plate faces inward.
  • Cut the second paper plate in half.
  • Staple the cut pieces of paper plate to the folded plate to create an oven-mitt type puppet.
  • Draw or stick some eyes onto the puppet.
  • Cut a length of ribbon and curl it with the scissors. Tape it inside the mouth to create a tongue.
Paper Plate Shaker
Make an inexpensive musical instrument with these simple supplies:
  • 2 paper plates
  • Decorations, such as stickers and markers
  • Rice or dried beans
  • Stapler
  • Ribbon
To make this paper plate craft:
  • Decorate the backs of each paper plate with stickers and markers.
  • Place a handful of rice or dried beans on one plate.
  • Set the other paper plate on top and face down to leave a pouch for the rice or beans to shake around.
  • Staple the plates together, inserting lengths of ribbon and stapling them in place as you go.
If you like these paper plate crafts, please contact ListenLoveLearn for more engaging games and toys for your child.

Image via Shutterstock.com
Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Toddler Playtime Can Improve Balance, Walking and Climbing



Between one and two years old, your toddler learns a remarkable number of skills. On her first birthday, she could barely pick things up. She got around by crawling and communicated with incoherent babbling. By her second birthday, she’ll be grabbing and throwing objects, running around, and chattering in more-or-less understandable partial sentences.

Toddler playtime is vital for helping your child reach these milestones. Consider some of the best toys to help improve balance, walking and climbing.
  • Ride-on toys: An 18-month-old loves the mobility a ride-on toy provides. A toddler can scoot around even before she has mastered walking, and the action strengthens her leg muscles to make walking come faster to her.
  • Push toys: A shopping cart offers the chance to practice walking. It makes toddler playtime more interesting a little later down the road by facilitating imaginative play.
  • Pull-along toys: As your toddler’s standing and walking balance improve, she’ll be able to turn her head while walking. This introduces the chance to enjoy brightly colored pull-along toys. This type of toy improves walking, balancing and physical coordination.
  • Balls: As your toddler approaches age two, she’ll be ready to “kick” a large, soft ball. She can’t yet sustain her balance on one leg, but she can use her legs and lower body to bump the ball forward along the ground and have a fun time doing so.
  • Ring around the rosy: This classic game gives your toddler the chance to practice walking sideways in a circle, falling down, standing back up and maintaining balance throughout. Any kind of dancing encourages the same physical skills.
  • Toddler slide: Having a safe toy for your child to climb on helps curtail the urge to scramble up more dangerous things, such as kitchen chairs and shelves.
  • Obstacle course: Set up a fun place for your child to balance, walk and climb by arranging couch cushions, cardboard boxes, the toddler slide and other obstacles in the living room. This can even turn into an imaginative play situation, such as escaping the monster.
For more tips on sculpting the perfect toddler playtime, contact ListenLoveLearn.

Image via Shutterstock.com
Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Roles Parents Can Play While Trusting Toddlers to Make Their Own Fun



trusting toddlers
Children learn through play. That’s one reason you should make every activity you do with your child fun. Play peek-a-boo when you get him dressed, sing a silly song while you change his diaper, and pretend the washing machine is a hoop and the laundry is a basketball.

Then, be sure to set aside special time to play with your child. At this age, don’t worry too much about the specific skills your child learns from one game or another; instead, simply trust your toddler to make his own fun. Trusting toddlers to play is all about letting them lead the playtime without interrupting or changing the game’s direction.

When you sit down with your toddler, let him be in charge of experimenting with new toys. You’re an adult, so of course you know the “right way” to complete the puzzle or play with a specific toy – but don’t do it. Sit on your hands if you have to! Unless your child asks for help, back off.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t still be involved in playtime. While trusting toddlers to play and make their own fun, adopt the following roles to still remain involved:
  • The cheerleader: Clap and cheer when your child achieves a goal or masters a new skill during play.
  • The playmate: Some games require a partner. When your child rolls you the ball, roll it back. When he laughs and runs from you, playfully chase him.
  • The research assistant: If a game or toy is getting boring, run off and find the perfect addition to make it feel new again.
  • The expert: Answer questions about what a toy is or what it’s made out of. If your child asks how to use it, show him some ideas.
  • The psychologist: Play can become frustrating when you’re too young or too small to do something. Encourage your child, comfort him, and offer to help press a button hard enough or undo a stubborn latch.
For more on the topic of trusting toddlers to play and make their own fun, please contact ListenLoveLearn today.

Image via Shutterstock.com