May 20th, 2008 Fun language memory game Posted by Melitsa in Education, Homemade, play activities

Fun language game to try, especially when you are going shopping and have a list. But it’s good for anytime. We play this game together as a group of 3 or 4. If you have a group of kids in the car or on a playdate it’s a quick bit of fun.

Game

You: I went to the shops/store and bought a tube of toothpaste.

Little One: I went to the shops/store and bought a tube of toothpaste AND a Cookie.

You: I went to the shops/store and bought a tube of toothpaste, a Cookie AND a bag of apples.

LO: I went to the shops/store and bought a tube of toothpaste, a Cookie, bag of apples AND a…….etc

• This memory game is fun and easy to keep them thinking and guessing. You can buy ridiculous things like Elephants and unusual things like happy smiles or Hot summer days .
• Change the rhyme to a different shop ( Electronics or Toy shop) or try ” I went for a walk and I saw a unicorn, a green frog, a puddle etc”
• With a smaller child you can change the game to be a call and response rhyme between them depending on how many words to remember. E.g.

BG:…… a toothbrush

LG: a cookie

BG: , a bag of apples, a fish.

• Add in adjectives and make the rhyme shorter
• E.g. Smelly fish, green apples, etc
• Change the rhyme to ..” I planned my dinner and in it I put a…” We tried this for fun at the dinner table last night with the food that was in front of us and it worked well. The Big guy added some silly foods in and it was funny all of us collapsing into laughter. Great way to get conversations started at dinner and discuss the food we’re eating.

• My LG is using sign language alongside his ‘words’ He gets to sign and say and we get to say or we learn a few signs and play the game using sign language. We only use 3 or 4 signs and stop when we forget or it’s not fun anymore.

• Actions: Similar to signing try imitating the action.. “I went to the shops and bought a …football, a brush, an ice cream, a Kangaroo etc.” Let the children find a good way of showing the action.

Keep the activity light and varied according to your kids. It’s an effective and fun way to learn new vocabulary, practice what they know, perhaps learn sign and improve their memory skills.

What other fun play activities do you do with your little ones using language?

Melitsa Avila is a former teacher, mother of three boys and military wife who talks about living an intentional play lifestyle using practical and everyday play activities to do with the under 5s. She publishes related ebooks & newsletters. Melitsa is the host and producer of a weekly Early Childhood radio show: Raising Playful Tots bringing parents and carers together with Early childhood practitioners. Thanks for reading!

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