In this activity, your child will use his growing language skills to say what an item is, tell what it does, and show how to use it. He will learn new vocabulary words as you help him label unfamiliar items and their functions.
Learning Area(s): Language and Communication
MATERIALS
- Bag with objects that have something in common (e.g., items from the kitchen, school supplies, set of tools, items used for gardening)
LET'S PLAY
Explain to your child that you’re going to play a game in which you pull an object from the bag, say what it is, explain what it does, and then show how to use it. You can go first picking out an item, for example, a can opener. You can say, “This is a can opener. You use it to open a can by pressing the sharp part into the can and then twisting this part to cut all around the rim.” Demonstrate how to open a can using the can opener.
Your child goes next, selecting an item from the bag (for example, a spoon). Emphasize the element of suspense and surprise in this game as your child reaches in the bag, for example, say, “I wonder what you’re going to grab from the bag! No peeking! Let’s see what it is!” Prompt him to tell you about the object: “What is that?” Your child might say, “A spoon.” Then ask, “What does it do?” He might say, “It is used to stir, serve, or eat food.” And you can say, “Let’s use it!” Encourage your child to stir, serve, and/or eat the contents of the can that you previously opened.
Keep going until you and your child have pulled out all of the items in the bag!
(Items could include a kitchen towel, apron, grater, peeler, spatula, whisk, etc.)
TIPS
- This is a great way to learn what your child already knows about common household items and what he does not know yet. If the child selects an item and does not know its name or function, encourage him to make some guesses about what it does. You can give hints or tell him the name of the item to help him figure it out.
- If you need to label or explain an item to your child, invite him to repeat the name of the item and imitate you after you show him how it is used. This way he will be more likely to remember the new item’s name and function.
- Once your child gets the hang of this game, he might like to introduce you to his favorite toys or characters that you might not know. For example, perhaps he wants you to try to identify his various Matchbox® cars, favorite sports heroes, or themed play figures. Let him quiz you on their names and characteristics and explain them to you. Even though this information may not feel important to you, it is prompting your child to use language skills to share information with you and practice conversation skills. You are also showing respect for your child’s interests, which conveys your love and interest in him.