There are opportunities to increase a child’s language development just about anywhere! Today we are going to talk about activities for Easter for preschoolers with the added bonus of improving language and communication! Where are you hiding Easter eggs this year? Inside your house? Outside, in the grass? Maybe they will be hidden above the swings or in front of the couch (because we all know what can happen with those lost eggs behind the furniture…yuck)
A Child’s Language Development
I like to say that communication happens everywhere. So everywhere there is an opportunity to improve language and communication skills.
To increase a child’s language development, accompany your toddler to activities for Easter for preschoolers, such as an egg hunt! While there, speak to them about where to find eggs, what they are going to do with the eggs, and describe the eggs.
Here are some examples:
“I see a green egg! It is beside the flowers”
“Look in the grass for the pink egg.”
If you are not directly accompanying your toddler on their egg hunt, there are still opportunities for language and communication.
For instance, prior to the start of the toddler egg hunt, ask questions about the eggs. “What’s in them?” “What colors do you see?” These open-ended questions cause your toddler to make a prediction and guess what? that incorporates higher level of language into the scenario. (win!)
Now, if you are questioning a 2-3 year old about the eggs you really can’t expect an exact answer. Just know that by simply asking the question and exposing your child to this vocabulary and higher level of thinking is impactful to a child’s language development. Your job in this scenario is to provide reinforcement to their response (whatever it looks like).
Reinforce Their Response
….and add to it!
Toddler responses to the question are definitely going to vary because every toddler is unique in their expressions. As a result, you may get a perplexed look of confusion, your toddler may point, or they may express a few words and vocalizations. You may even get no response, because toddlers are their own boss and, by all means, do as they please and in their own time. [and I do in fact, know this from personal experience]
A few things to keep in mind during conversation are:
(1) get on your toddler’s level, face to face when you speak to them. This not only helps with their attention to you (the speaker) but also demonstrates that you are interested in what’s going on in their world
(2) Speak in a happy tone with intonation! Your excitement about the adventurous egg hunt will carry-over and, in turn, will create an excitement within your toddler for what’s going to happen at the egg hunt!
(3) Provide time for them to respond. Often times, we are quick to ask a question of our toddlers and then answer the question for them. Be mindful of this when you are asking a question of your toddler (this is important in all communication situations, not just the egg hunt) provide them time to give a response before your reinforcement.
Response & Reinforcement
Here are some examples of responses and reinforcement when interacting with your toddler about the egg hunt. Also, please note that in these example the term “speaker” is in reference to the individual asking the initial question.
You ask the qustion: “Are you ready?”
Scenario 1:
Toddler Response: *Points* Speaker Reinforcement: Yes! You are going to look for eggs in the grass!
Scenario 2:
Toddler Response: *Points and vocalizes (ahh)*
Speaker Reinforcement: I know! Look at all of the eggs, isn’t it exciting? You get to put them in your basket!
Scenario 3:
Toddler Response: “Egg”
Speaker Reinforcement: Yes! We are going to be looking for colorful eggs.
Scenario 4:
Toddler Response: *look*
Speaker Reinforcement: Those are Easter eggs! You’re going to pick them up and put them in your basket!
Don’t forget to have fun!
Participating in activities for Easter for preschoolers is an excellent way to reinforce language and communication. Reinforcing the language expressed at a toddler egg hunt helps with vocabulary and provides positive feedback to your toddler for answering a question. As a result, this builds their overall language and communication skills! Don’t forget to have fun while you are doing the “work”. These situations should play out in as natural a manner as possible. So don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Always remember to follow your child’s lead and just keep talking to them! Check out this scavenger hunt check list for Easter! It’s free!
You are doing a great job!
So now it’s your turn! How can you find other ways to incorporate a child’s language development into your Easter egg hunt this year?
P.S. Have you seen my spring outdoor activities for toddlers?
Want to know more about toddler speech sound development? Check out my blog post about phonological processes in toddlers!
