The Georgia Early Learning Standards Activity Guides may - gapitc

42
Expresses thoughts with
sounds, words, and gestures
(expressive language)
Activities and Strategies
for Development
Reach for It!
Dangle a colorful object in front of a baby to see if he will reach for it. Choose
one with bright colors like red, blue, and green. Here are two ideas for colorful
objects that are easy to make:
• Remove the label from an empty clear, plastic water bottle. Put red, blue, and
green pompoms, beads, or buttons inside and seal the lid with hot glue.
• Punch three holes around the edge of an empty tube from paper towels or
toilet paper. Tie a red ribbon in one hole, a green one in the second, and a
blue in the third to make “streamers.”
Shake the pompom bottle or wave the streamers in front of a baby who is
lying on a mat or sitting in an infant seat. See if he reaches for it. This is baby’s
way to “tell” you that he finds it interesting. Let him touch or hold it to explore
on his own.
Talk to him as he reaches and explores. “Look at the pretty pompoms, Lucas. See
how they move when I shake the bottle. Do you want to hold it?” Respond to
any sounds the baby makes. Repeat his sounds and continue to describe what he
is doing.
Reach and Teach
Place two toys in front of each baby who is sitting or lying on a mat or carpet.
Choose toys you know the babies enjoy. Place the toys where they will have to
reach to pick them up.
Watch and see which toy each baby chooses.
Name the toy for the baby. “Sophie, you are pointing at the monkey. Do you
want the monkey?” Move it closer to her if she needs help.
If the baby makes sounds when she points or picks up the toy, continue to talk
about it. “Yes, that’s the monkey. It has a long tail. Monkeys make a funny sound
– hee, hee, hee.”