Sing and Stomp
Prep:油None | Activity Time: 35 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).油
Step 2: As you play or sing the song, make a movement (such as stomping) for each syllable you hear/sing.油
Example: Mary Had a Little Lamb油
Ma ... ry油 油 油had油 油 a油 油 油lit ... tle油 油 lamb油
stomp油 stomp油 油stomp油 油stomp油 油stomp油 油stomp油 油stomp油
lit ... tle油 油 lamb,油 lit ... tle油 油 油lamb油
stomp stomp油 油stomp油 油stomp stomp油 油 stomp油 油 油 油
Ma ... ry油 油 油had油 油 a油 油 油lit ... tle油 油 lamb油
stomp stomp油 油 stomp油 油stomp油 油stomp stomp油 油stomp油
Its油 油 油fleece油 油was油 油 white油 油 as油 油 油snow油
stomp油 油 stomp油 油 stomp油 油 stomp油 油 stomp油 油stomp油 油 油 油
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."油
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!油