08/12/2022
Continuing on the theme of “Be The Toy!” People games are one of my favorite tools to teach parents of young children who are learning to communicate. People games (sometimes called "social games") are simple, repetitive games that are played without toys and focus on the interaction between you and your child. They help children learn to imitate actions/gestures/words, initiate interactions, take turns, and attend to others.
These games should be played the same way each time so your child learns what to expect. Once you have played it MANY times, you can then pause during the game to see if your child will fill in the next step with an action, sound, or word.
The game I use daily with the children I work with is a variation of “Up-Down!”. To play this game:
1) Lift your child up overhead while saying “up…up…up” with an animated voice
2) Hold them up for a second
3) Then bring them down quickly and say “down!”
You can also add a spin or do several up-down’s in a row. Then put your child down and WAIT to see if they will initiate it again (they might raise their arms up, they might look at you and move towards you, or they may attempt to say “up”). But remember, play the game MANY times all the way through before waiting so your child has a chance to learn the routine first.
Need help incorporating these strategies into your daily routine? Have questions about your child’s language development? Reach out to us at 917-719-0424.
