Are you looking for tools to expand your child’s language skills at home? Let us help! We suggest applying basic language concepts to find new ways to play with your child’s old toys.
What are basic language concepts? Basic language concepts are the building blocks for successful and efficient communication skills. Knowledge of basic language concepts impacts your child’s ability to process, interpret, recall, and execute everyday oral directions of increasing length and complexity.
Applying basic language concepts to everyday play will assist your child with their vocabulary, potential academic success, and participation in social games and routines.
See below for examples of how to apply these concepts to your routine:
| Basic Language Concepts | Examples | Toys | Utilize it! |
|---|---|---|---|
| DirectionLocationPosition | under, inside, outside, uptop, bottom, behind, in fronton, off | Simon saysPlay-Dohfarm setstacking cupstunnelsdoll house | Put your toy under the table.Put the pig on top of the barn.Take your hat off. |
| NumberQuantity | few, empty, many, full, alone, little, more, most, one, two | snackcooking setHi-Ho-Cheeriostacking cupssand boxbucket | Show me which bowl has more grapes.Fill the bucket up with sand.The carton of eggs is full. |
| Sequence | first, last, before, after | race carstrain setturn-takingMr. Potato Headboard games | Put Thomas first in line.Put Mr. Potato’s eyes on first and his hat on last.After you wash your hands, you can eat a snack. |
| Attribute | cold, hot, hard, soft, dry, wet, smooth, rough, thin, thick, slow, fast, red, blonde, white, old, new, | I SpyGuess Whokitchen setpicture books | I spy something wet.Show me which food tastes cold.Who has red hair? |