Sing and Stomp
Prep:泭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).泭
Step 2: As you play or sing the song, make a movement (such as stomping) for each syllable you hear/sing.泭
Example: Mary Had a Little Lamb泭
Ma ... ry泭 泭 泭had泭 泭 a泭 泭 泭lit ... tle泭 泭 lamb泭
stomp泭 stomp泭 泭stomp泭 泭stomp泭 泭stomp泭 泭stomp泭 泭stomp泭
lit ... tle泭 泭 lamb,泭 lit ... tle泭 泭 泭lamb泭
stomp stomp泭 泭stomp泭 泭stomp stomp泭 泭 stomp泭 泭 泭 泭
Ma ... ry泭 泭 泭had泭 泭 a泭 泭 泭lit ... tle泭 泭 lamb泭
stomp stomp泭 泭 stomp泭 泭stomp泭 泭stomp stomp泭 泭stomp泭
Its泭 泭 泭fleece泭 泭was泭 泭 white泭 泭 as泭 泭 泭snow泭
stomp泭 泭 stomp泭 泭 stomp泭 泭 stomp泭 泭 stomp泭 泭stomp泭 泭 泭 泭
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."泭
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!泭