Describe, Describe, Describe!
Here's What To Do
Select an object with your child and describe it in as many ways as you can think of.
Incorporate the different senses too - how does the object taste, feel, sound, or smell?
Invite family members to join in and take turns playing the “describe” game with other objects or things that you do. For example, think of all different kinds of ways to describe a recent family meal, or the scenery outside when you’re stuck in traffic.
How about ways to describe one another?
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Focus calmly together by closing your eyes, taking a few deep breaths and naming one thing you hear.
Engage:
- “What do you see around us that we can describe?” What do you notice about the _____?”
- What kinds of words can we use to describe what you’re seeing outside the car window?
Encourage:
- Ask guiding questions to help your child think of different ways to describe the object or scene. Don’t be afraid to introduce new words in context.
- “We talked about its shape and its color, what about its size? What other words could we use to say it’s very big?”
Reflect:
- “What should we describe next?”
Not quite ready?
Practice describing objects using one or two familiar characteristics, such as color and size, before incorporating more characteristics.
Ready for more?
Your child can also describe events and memories. They can also be more descriptive when making up a story.
As your child masters this skill...
They will apply new descriptive vocabulary when communicating.