How To Use Picture Books to Build Language Skills

For those not familiar with it, Brightly is a fantastic website for parents who want to foster a love of books and reading in their kids.  They have book recommendations, tips for parents, activity ideas, etc.

I especially love their section on picture books.  What I wanted to share today in particular is their article on ways to use picture books to build kids' language skills:

5 Ways to Use Picture Books to Build Kids’ Language Skills

The article is even written by a parent who is also a speech-language pathologist!  She describes how to build vocabulary, social language skills, comprehension, and sequencing abilities while sharing picture books with your child.  Enjoy!

--Sarah

Games to Support Language Skills

Need a last minute gift idea??  These games are excellent choices for family game night:

• Taboo: This game requires 'describing' which helps children express their ideas more clearly.  It also helps with word retrieval and listening skills.

• Scattergories: This game is great for word retrieval.  The object is to write down as many categorically related objects that begin with a certain letter as possible.  For example: A vegetable that starts with C.  Supports working memory and brainstorming.

• Apples to Apples Jr:  A judge chooses a card with an adjective on it.  The players choose a noun or verb card out of their hand that best fits with the adjective card and hands it to the judge, who proceeds to choose the card they think is the best fit.  This game reinforces comparisons, describing, grammar, vocabulary and synonyms.

These are some easy ways to sneak in some learning during game time!

And the answer is Carrot... if you thought Cauliflower that's just weird!  ;-)

Non-Tech Gift Ideas

 We can't deny that technology plays a huge role in our everyday lives.  It has an impact on social interactions as well as language development. Keeping that in mind and with Christmas approaching fast, here are some great non-tech holiday gifts ideas for friends and family! 

http://blog.asha.org/2016/11/29/10-non-tech-holiday-gift-ideas-to-promote-kids-language-learning/

Happy Holidays, everyone!

--Megan