Get the Croccoli
Here's What To Do
While your child is helping you to shop or while playing together, change the beginning sounds of some familiar words to make new silly words.
For example, instead of “broccoli”, ask your child to get some “croccoli.” Your child can repeat the new word after you.
You can ask your child what you should have said instead. Point out that you changed the sounds at the beginning from “B” to “C” (they are just being introduced to this, not expected to identify this).
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Play a quick imitating game by taking turns making silly sounds that the other person can imitate.
Engage:
- “I’ll change the beginning sound in words to make a new silly word.” “You can repeat it.”
- “Were the sounds the same or different?”
Encourage:
- Repeat the word a few times before saying it with your child.
- Point to your mouth as you say the silly word, then the original word, to help your child see and hear how the sounds are different at the beginning.
Reflect:
- “What word should I change next?”
Not quite ready?
If your child isn’t ready to repeat, you can say the word and ask them to give a thumbs up or thumbs down if that’s the correct word. “I said I was driving the ‘var.’ Is this a toy var?”
Ready for more?
Your child can try changing the beginning sound independently.
As your child masters this skill...
They will repeat words with beginning sounds that have been changed.