Language and Family Fun During: Autumn
While the weather cools down and we welcome the fall season, we also welcome new ways to encourage language! Whether you’re participating in The Great Gilbert Gourd Hunt, shopping for Halloween costumes, or carving pumpkins, there are tons of ways to encourage language while having fun.
How do I promote language during fall activities?
Narrate: While you’re out picking pumpkins or searching for gourds, describe your child’s actions and their surroundings.
“We are out searching for gourds!”
“I can see fall leaves and hear them crunch under my feet.”
Provide Choices: Before deciding on the perfect pumpkin to bring home and carve, verbally give your child options to choose from.
“Do you want the small pumpkin or the big pumpkin?”
“Should we keep looking or take a break?”
Compare and contrast: Each gourd is unique. Be sure to describe these differences in color, shape, size, or texture to give your child rich descriptions so they can expand their vocabulary.
“My gourd is yellow and rough. Your gourd is white and smooth.”
“Your pumpkin is heavy. My pumpkin is light”
Expand: When your child communicates, repeat what they have said and add onto their phrases. This can be as simple as adding one or two words to their original phrase.
“Pumpkin patch!”, “Yes, we are at the pumpkin patch!”
“I see one!”, “Yes, you see one gourd!”
What if my child doesn’t repeat what I say?
While we model new language through rich descriptions, providing choices, and expanding child’s original phrases, it is okay if your child does not repeat what you say. Our goal is not immediate repetition. Our goal is to provide language opportunities whether that be new words, new ways to phrase their current ideas, or engaging in turn-taking conversations. While your child may not immediately repeat your language model, your child is still actively absorbing and processing new vocabulary words, grammatical structures, and social language skills. Modeling language during fun fall activities should most importantly: be fun!
Should I correct my child’s grammar?
Instead of focusing on your child’s errors, consider modeling back their original phrase using correct grammar. For example, if your child says, “We jumping on leaves,” you can respond by rephrasing your child’s utterance with the correct grammar by saying, “Yes, we are jumping on leaves”. By focusing on communication, not correctness, you can show that you value their communication attempts. We want to make sure kids feel encouraged and safe to try new words, phrases, or sentences, even if they are not grammatically correct yet.
Final takeaways
Fall is more than just pumpkins and leaves; it’s a season full of natural opportunities for your child to practice new words, expand sentences, and engage in meaningful conversations. By turning everyday fall activities into language-rich experiences, you’re helping your child build communication skills while making special memories together. If you have any questions or want to share how you are incorporating language into your family’s fall season, reach out to us! We’d love to hear from you!
Growing With You,
The Grow With Words Team
