Sing and Stomp
Prep:听None | Activity Time: 3鈥5 Minutes
At this age, toddlers have begun to understand the value of language as a means of communicating with you. They typically have a vocabulary of about 15 to 20 words and are beginning to string together two-word phrases. Although you will likely understand only about 50 percent of what your 18- to 23-month-old is trying to tell you, you can still encourage her language development in a variety of ways. One such way is by singing simple songs while incorporating movement or actions.
- Children's songs
Step 1: Choose a simple song your child enjoys listening to (you may play a recording of it or sing it yourself).听
Step 2: As you play or sing the song, make a movement (such as stomping) for each syllable you hear/sing.听
Example: Mary Had a Little Lamb听
鈥淢a ... ry听 听 听had听 听 a听 听 听lit ... tle听 听 lamb鈥澨
stomp听 stomp听 听stomp听 听stomp听 听stomp听 听stomp听 听stomp听
鈥渓it ... tle听 听 lamb,听 lit ... tle听 听 听lamb鈥澨
stomp stomp听 听stomp听 听stomp stomp听 听 stomp听 听 听 听
鈥淢a ... ry听 听 听had听 听 a听 听 听lit ... tle听 听 lamb鈥澨
stomp stomp听 听 stomp听 听stomp听 听stomp stomp听 听stomp听
鈥淚ts听 听 听fleece听 听was听 听 white听 听 as听 听 听snow鈥澨
stomp听 听 stomp听 听 stomp听 听 stomp听 听 stomp听 听stomp听 听 听 听
Step 3: Encourage your child to follow along to the best of her ability. This is more about exposure and having fun than it is about "doing it correctly."听
You may notice that your child is able to sing a few of the words clearly, but then babbles for the other words (sometimes, in time to the music!). She is approximating the sounds she hears in the song. Celebrate any and all attempts your toddler makes!听