Describe Describe!

One of the greatest ways to boost language - at all ages - is to describe things around us. This description boosts vocabulary - especially adjectives and adverbs. It boosts creativity, because we have to pinpoint exactly what we want to say. It even develops pre-writing skills - because so much of writing is describing a phenomenon, and explaining it.

When describing, it is helpful to introduce new words. Try "squishy" instead of "soft" or, if your child is in late elementary, "rotund" instead of round. It is also helpful to use all five senses. Imagery - prompting your child with "what does this look/smell/taste/sound/feel like" is another really great way to get some complex language at any age.

As for activities - here are some great language activities, which are actually quite fun, to target adjectives / adverbs / imagery -

1. I spy - a classic! I spy with my little eye... Except this time you can ask your child for clarification. "What does it sound like?"; "Does it have a smell?" etc.

2. Games like hedbanz or Guess who- kids love this one! And when you ask questions, you can get descriptive on your turn. "Does this animal sound soft..."; "Does your person look stressed" etc. Or, if you don't have hedbanz / Guess Who , draw a picture, hide it, and have your child guess what it could be using yes / no questions.

3. Drawing and coloring - when looking at your child's drawing - ask questions about it! "Oh cool a monster. What does his skin feel like? Is he tall or short? How sharp are his teeth?" etc. Aim for 5 - 6 questions, if you can.

And as always - check out Smarter Speech's description activity (with monsters!) on TPT for a start, and for some good ideas.

Happy Talking!

Disclaimer : Smarter Speech is a pediatric speech therapy / speech-language pathology practice for toddlers and children providing in-home and teletherapy services in and around Mountain View, CA and Los Gatos, CA. Smarter Speech Blog aims to provide free speech and language tips for parents educators and therapists. However, this post is not providing speech-language pathology services. This is general information, not speech -language pathology or speech therapy. This article does not assume or create a client – SLP relationship. The author is not liable for any losses or damages due to actions or failure to act based on the content in this article. If you need assistance with a child’s speech or language needs, please contact a speech-language pathologist in your area.