Learning that words break down into smaller sound units is an important pre-reading skill. You can help your toddler start to listen for the smaller parts, or syllables, in the names of common items from around your home. This fun game encourages your child to separate the syllables within a word and then blend them together again.
- five to six everyday items with which your child is familiar (crayon, paper, baseball, necklace, helicopter, telephone etc.)
- a bag (large enough to hold the items you've selected)
Step 1: Invite your child to find five to six items to place in the bag.
Step 2: Invite your child to reach into the bag, choose an object and say its name.
You might say:
“What did you choose from the bag? That's right! You chose the paper.”
Step 3: Say the name of the object slowly, pausing between each syllable. Tell your child you are saying it slowly, “like a turtle.”
You might say:
“I'll say it slowly, like a turtle.” pa...per
“Now, you say it slowly, like a turtle.” pa...per
Step 4: Next, say the word fast. Tell your child you are saying it fast, "like a cheetah.”
You might say:
“I'll say it fast, like a cheetah!” paper
“Now, you say it fast, like a cheetah!” paper
Step 5: Repeat with the remaining items in the bag.
Step 1: To make it easier, reduce the number of items in the bag. Place just two to three items your child can name in the bag such as a crayon, paper, or necklace.
Step 2: Invite your child to reach into the bag, choose an object and say its name.
Step 3: Add a slow walking motion as you say the name of the object slowly, pausing between each syllable. Tell your child you are walking and talking slowly, “like a turtle.”
You might say:
“Let's walk across the room slowly, just like a turtle would.”
“As we walk, let's say paper slowly.”
pa...per pa...per pa...per
step step step step step step
Step 4: Next, Add running in place as you say the word fast. Tell your child you are running and speaking fast, "like a cheetah.”
You might say:
“Let's run across the room quickly, just like a cheetah would.”
“As we run, let's say paper quickly!”
paper paper paper
run run run
Continue with the remaining items in the bag.
Step 1: Invite your child to find five to six items to place in the bag.
Step 2: Invite your child to reach into the bag, choose an object and say its name.
You might say:
“What did you choose from the bag? That's right! You chose the paper.”
Step 3: To add some challenge, see if your toddler can segment and blend the words without giving her a model. You can encourage your toddler to show you how to say the name of the object slowly, "like a turtle," and fast, "like a cheetah,” while incorporating slow and fast movements.
You might say:
“Show me how you say paper slowly.”
“Show me how you say it fast.”
Step 4: If your child is unsure what to do, show her how to combine the two together.
You might say:
“I'll say it slowly, like a turtle.” pa...per
“Now, you say it slowly, like a turtle.” pa...per
“Let's walk across the room slowly, just like a turtle would.
As we walk, let's say paper slowly”.
pa...per pa...per pa...per
step step step step step step
“I'll say it fast, like a cheetah! paper
Now, you say it fast, like a cheetah!” paper
“Let's run across the room quickly, just like a cheetah would.
As we run, let's say paper quickly!”
paper paper paper
run run run
Continue with the remaining items in the bag.
