Language Development Activities for Toddlers and Preschool Age

Toddlers at the age of one to about 18 months old, pickup on repeating what they hear from their environment, playmates, from being read to and the like. As toddlers grow and show interest in expanding their limited vocabulary at around 18 months or older, adults and teachers could help expand this interest with fun activities.

Keep in mind that when encouraging toddlers to talk, try to be casual about it. At times, it could be too intimidating when adults insist that a toddler repeat a word you said. Be patience with the learning process with not so much pressure and keep it fun so interest isn’t lost.

Here are some examples of language development activities I have found to encourage the love of learning in this area: (note – each activity is specific for a certain age group listed next to the name of the activity)

Puppet Play      age: 18 months – preschoolers

Materials: I have collected various puppets from different stores over the years. If you look online, you can find hand puppets through various educational stores also finger puppets are fun for this age group. If you search online, see my favorite online stores list below or use search words like educational materials or catalog for

educational toys.

Puppet play for toddlers is an excellent way to teach the little ones how to express with language. There are various ways you can use the puppets. You can use the puppets as characters in a favorite story or fairytale or a story made up that encourages conversation. With the toddler age group, it’s not necessary to have a theater setup or stage. They lose interest quickly if they are asked to sit and watch. It works best to encourage them to participate by letting them choose which puppet they want to use themselves. We just sit in a circle usually on the floor. They will need help in showing them how to work the puppet. It’s ok if they can’t open and close the mouth or move other parts of the puppet. Some might be intimidated by the puppet and just prefer to watch or use a finger puppet instead. Sometimes I use the puppets while reading a favorite fairytale. For example: As I am reading, a part will come up for a pig to speak. I encourage the little one who has the pig puppet to repeat what I say. The little ones usually do well with just a few words to act the part. I sometimes say it with them with a voice that might sound like a pig voice. That gets them laughing. Everyone has a turn when their character comes up in the story. Puppets can also be used for singing favorite songs like; Old MacDonald Had a Farm as each has a puppet to mimic the sounds of the animals.

Memory/Match Game  age: two year - preschoolers

Materials: You can find various memory/match type games at toy stores. Find one that shows picture cards. If you search online, see my favorite online stores below or use search words like educational materials or catalog for educational toys.

Memory/match games are simple games of matching pictured cards. These are fun games to encourage language development and memory as well as social skills with taking turns.

I pull out about 20 cards (ten pairs) and mix them up faced down by moving them around on a toddler table or floor. I spread them out (still faced down) in even rows. I play with no more than four players. The more players, the more complicated the game can get for the little ones. Sometimes, I play with them and sometimes I act as the teacher only.

As they take turns, each one picks two cards and flips them over. Flipping one card at a time, I point to the picture flipped over and I ask if they know what the picture is. If not, we all shout it out together. Sort of like the flashcards as we name each picture. If the two cards do not match (not the same picture) than we place them back faced down in the same spaces they came from. If the two cards match, then the one that found the cards could keep them by their side. Sometimes the little ones want to play with the cards in their own pile. That’s ok. Let them. It also keeps them entertained while they’re waiting for their turn.

I say out loud whose turn it is. This helps them get the idea of taking turns while playing a game together. Each has a turn picking the cards to flip over. Sometimes they get in the habit of picking the same cards they picked last turn, so encourage them to try other cards by pointing to the other side of the table. Let them travel around the table or floor so they have a chance to reach in other areas. With the older toddlers or preschool age, I challenge their memory skills when we see a card that we saw before from another area, I ask, “I remember that card. Where was the other card? Can you remember where we saw it?” This usually gets them thinking. If I’m playing along with them, they get the idea of how I am finding the matches. The game ends when we run out of faced down cards, if we are running out of time, or if they are losing interest.   

I SPY Books     age: one year - preschoolers

Materials: You can find a variety of I SPY Books online or in bookstores.

I SPY Books are fun ways for little ones to strengthen their language skills by reading and recognizing letters, shapes, colors, numbers, and counting.

Open the book to a random page and say, “I spy with my little eye something red.” Then anyone in the group can point to objects that are red. We also name the items out loud as they repeat what it is. I continue with “I spy with my little eye something _____.” I try to touch on different areas like a certain letter, number, or a specific shape. Sometimes I have them count how many items of a specific color. This game goes on and on until they lose interest. This usually lasts for about 20 minutes for toddler age group.

Letter Games  age:  18 months - preschoolers

Materials: Look for a game that has matching letter puzzle pieces (matching upper case to lower case letters) and shows a picture related to the letter on the opposite side. Search online; see my favorite online stores below or use search words like educational materials or catalog for educational toys. My favorite game I like is Ladybug Letter Game found at Lakeshore

Letter games are educational yet fun while focusing on language development. To focus on letter recognition, I grab a set of five letters at a time. I separate the upper case letters from the lower case letters. I place all the cards with pictures side up on the table or floor. I mix them up by moving them around.

As they take turns, each one picks a half picture and tries to match it with the other half. With help, he will try each piece until one fits. Once the other half is matched, we look at the picture. The toddler is encouraged to name the picture. We all shout out the name together. Then we flip the matched picture over to shout out what the letter is. I flip it back over to the picture and sound out the first letter. For example if the picture is “dog” than I sound out “D” “dah” for dog. Then I flip the picture back again to the letter side and point to the “D” and sound it out again. Automatically they mimic my sounds while looking at what I am pointing at. Before the next turn, I grab another letter set, separate it and add it to the mixed group. Then it’s ready for the next child’s turn. I do this until we run out of letters or when they start to lose interest.

Logo Memory Match Game   

Age: two years – preschoolers  (Homemade game idea)

Materials:

•    A word processing program to copy and paste pictures

•    Printer

•    Printer paper

•    Scissors

•    Index cards

•    Glue

•    Laminator or find a local office supply store that offers laminating services

Logo Memory Match Game is a letter/symbol recognition game. Little ones recognize the logos as familiar symbols that they see all the time around the house, when they are shopping with family, and when they are driven around town. The Logo Memory Match Game takes it a step further by helping them recognize the letters in the logos. Through research, it has been found that little ones as young as one recognize these logos from what they see on a regular basis. This game gives one of many opportunities to have exposure to meaningful uses of letters and print awareness.

Here’s how you can create this game: Lookup logos of stores, food items, restaurants, that is familiar to the little one’s environment from home, and when they are out and about with family. Copy and save the pictures of the logos on a word processing program. Adjust the picture to fit the size of a small index card. If the logo doesn’t have the letters included in the logo sign, then add the name in large font next to the logo.

My suggestion is to search for at least 20 logos to help expand their letter recognition from their environment. Once you have found enough logos and made them fit the size of an index card, you are ready for the next step. Print them out in color twice. You will need two of each logo for the match game. Cut out each logo and glue them on the blank side of small index cards. Now, the next step is up to you in how you want to preserve the cards. I went to a local office supply store and had them laminate each card for me. Laminating keeps the cards in good condition, to prevent the little ones from tearing, bending, or writing on the cards.

How to play: Just like the Memory/Match game suggested in this above, I pull out about 10 cards (five pairs) and mix them up faced down by moving them around on a toddler table or floor. I spread them out (still faced down) in even rows. I play with no more than four players. The more players, the more complicated the game can get for the little ones. Sometimes, I play with them and sometimes I act as the teacher only.

As they take turns, each one picks two cards and flips them over. Flipping one card at a time, I point to the picture flipped over and I ask if they know what the picture is. If not, we all shout it out together. Sort of like the flashcards as we name each picture. Then I ask if they can find one of the letters on the logos. If the two cards do not match (not the same picture) than we place them faced down in the same spaces they came from. If the two cards match, then the one that found the cards could keep them by their side. Sometimes the little ones want to play with the cards in their own pile. That’s ok. Let them. It also keeps them entertained while they are waiting for their turn.

I say out loud whose turn it is. This helps them get the idea of taking turns while playing a game together. Each has a turn picking the cards to flip over. Sometimes they get in the habit of picking the same cards they picked last turn, so encourage them to try other cards by pointing to the other side of the table. Let them travel around the table or floor so they have a chance to reach in other areas. With the older toddlers or preschool age, I challenge their memory skills when we see a card that we saw before from another area, I ask, “I remember that card. Where was the other card? Can you remember where we saw it?” This usually gets them thinking. If I’m playing along with them, they get the idea of how I am finding the matches. The game ends when we run out of faced down cards, if we are running out of time, or if they are losing interest.

Signage on walls     for all ages to view (homemade Idea)

Materials:

•    A word processing program to copy and paste pictures

•    Printer

•    Printer paper

•    Scissors

•    Laminator or find a local office supply store that offers laminating services

Signage on the walls is similar to the language development idea of the Logo Match Game mentioned above. I laminate larger versions of the logos and stick them on the walls in my child care room. The little ones love to point out the signs on the walls. It gives opportunities to challenge their knowledge of what they recognize in terms of letters. Do they recognize what store it’s from? Do they recognize the letters next to the sign? You would be amazed how much they already recognize because they are so used to seeing these signs when they are out and about with their family. Before, they only recognized them as a symbol and now they realize the letters also.

I have created a stop sign, traffic light sign, and railroad sign as well. They like to pretend they are traveling and play red light/green light.

Cereal Box Puzzles    

Age: two year – preschoolers (Homemade Idea)

Materials:

•    Empty cereal boxes (preferably cereal boxes that your child recognizes)

•    Scissors

•    Pen or pencil

Cereal box puzzles is another unique way to help little ones recognize letters in every day products they might see around their house.

Here’s how you create the puzzles: Cut out the front side of the cereal box. Turn the cut out face down on a table. Draw lines downward and across making six squares. Then change the lines into waves.

The waves are the shapes of the puzzle pieces. Once you are satisfied with the shapes of the puzzle pieces, you are ready for the next step. Cut out the pieces following the wavy lines. You have now created a puzzle.

How to play: Mix up the cut outs and help the little one place the pieces in their right places. I would let them put the puzzle together one playmate at a time. It can be too confusing if two or three are doing the puzzle at the same time. As he/she is putting the puzzle together, point to the letters on the cereal front to help him/her recognize the letters. Once the puzzle is put together, more than likely the cereal box front will be recognized.

Felt Board or Flannel Board for nursery rhymes and storybook telling   

Age: two year – preschoolers (homemade idea)

Materials:

•    A stiff backing or board to the size you want – some board ideas are cardboard, artist canvases found in art supply stores, cork board, or billboard.

•    Smaller backing - You can also make smaller ones for little ones to play on their own.

•    Felt or flannel for background - get enough to cover the board and add a couple of inches for room to wrap over the edges.

•    Some type of adhesive to stick felt or flannel onto the backing/board – I used a spray adhesive for multi-purpose surfaces.

•    Another suggestion to keep felt or flannel on the board is to use a staple gun on the back fabric

•    Find extra felt or flannel material to create the characters needed for storytelling or nursery rhymes

I made this pictured felt board and felt cut outs to go along with the nursery rhyme song: Five Little Speckled Frogs. You can get creative in making different characters that go with favorite children books or a variety of nursery rhyme songs. The little ones as well as the preschool age children love to use these boards. You can also use the felt board while you are reading a book to the group. It helps them understand the story and stay attentive.

Iva’s favorite online stores:

Kaplan Early Learning Company www.kaplanco.com

Lakeshore www.lakeshorelearning.com

Toys R Us www.toysrus.com

It is my hope that by teaching little ones the love of learning by encouraging language development that they will grow and develop into confident children throughout their educational years.

*Iva

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