Mumma, Let's Pretend and Learn New Words!
Hi Mumma, did you know that pretending can help me learn to talk better? When we play pretend, I learn new words and phrases. Here are some fun ways we can boost my language skills through pretend play:
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Use Vivid Language
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Practice: If I'm cleaning a mirror with the Squeaky Clean Squeegee Set, you can say things like, “The mirror is so dirty,” “This spot is sticky,” or “Oh no! You got all wet!” This helps me learn descriptive words.
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Ask “Wh-” Questions
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Practice: Ask me who, what, and where questions to encourage me to think and use my words. If I'm pretending to be a firefighter, you could say, “There’s a fire. What do we need? We need…water! Let’s get water!”
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Start a Story and Let Me Finish
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Practice: Begin a story like, “Once upon a time, there was a magical unicorn who loved to explore. Where did the unicorn go?” This helps me use my imagination and language skills.
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Change the Words to a Familiar Song
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Practice: When I'm washing the dishes in the Super Sustainable Sink, you can sing to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”—“It’s time to wash the plates, it’s time to wash the plates, the plates are dirty and need a bath, it’s time to wash the plates.”
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Encourage Role Play
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Practice: When I pretend to be someone else, like a mom or dad, I have to think about what they would say or do. I might pretend to grab my coat and purse to leave the house or imitate you on a work call. This helps me practice words I've heard.
Playing pretend is so much fun and helps me learn to talk better. Thanks for playing with me, Mumma!
Keywords: pretend play, language skills, toddler development, role play, vivid language, questions