Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Vocabulary Development in Young Children



Researchers have found that children from low-income families may start Kindergarten with 10,000 fewer words in their vocabularies than their classmates.  Children with low vocabularies have been found to be at-risk of reading difficulties.  Because of the large quantity of words children need to have in their vocabularies to be effective communicators, parents and teachers must work together to give children a good head start.


Here are some vocabulary activities that can be done at home or in a group setting:

  • Wide reading—read a wide variety of books to the child.
  • Deep reading— pre-select no more than 2 or 3 words to discuss with the child while reading the story.  The words should be meaningful to the child.  Try to use the word throughout the day and review in the future. 
  • Play “I Spy”—my sons and I used to do this in the car; a great way to pass the time.
  • Name things for the child--not just nouns, don’t forget verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.  “Wow, that is a really big tree; it is gigantic.”
  • Describe sensory activities—how does it feel?
  • Child explains pictures he/she draws—help the child with the proper vocabulary; don’t let him or her say “that thing”, name it.
  • Sorting and classifying activities—what characteristic did the child use in sorting the items?
  • Cooking activities—talk about what you are using and doing.
  • Nature walks—talk about what you see.
  • Poetry—provides condensed, concise language
  • Describe emotional vocabulary—how do you feel?
  • Ask open-ended questions
  • Don’t use baby language; stretch vocabulary with big words when possible and appropriate; explain the words you use.

Working together, parents and teachers can do a lot in improving children’s vocabularies.
Misty

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Beating the Flu



So far, this year’s flu season is looking pretty unpleasant.  It started 5 weeks earlier than anticipated and, as rough as it is so far, has not yet peaked.  News reports are filled with stories of the worst flu season in a decade, including the news that there have been 18 flu-related pediatric deaths so far this season.  


So, with such grim reports, how do we protect ourselves and our children?  Although I realize vaccinations are controversial, that is the Centers for Disease Control’s first recommendation.  The one bit of good news from this year’s flu season is that the vaccine developed for this season is so far proving to be effective for the strains of flu reported in the vast majority of cases.  


The next piece of protection is staying home when you don't feel well.  Simply stated, sick people make others sick.  Anyone with a fever should remain isolated for 24 hours after the fever breaks without the use of medication.


The final piece is just following simple health guidelines and ensuring that children do the same.  Wash your hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes, keep your hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes, promptly dispose of tissues, and keep your desk, etc. clean and sanitary.  


These simple steps will go far in keeping you and your children healthy.
Misty