We often think of familiy pictures when time for Christmas cards rolls around. There are many ways to build language skills with the photos in those cards.
Tomorrow is December 1st. I have been reminded again and again that we have an extra week this year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. People keep saying that Thanksgiving was early. Maybe so. However, according to my calendar, tomorrow is December 1. I still have not signed (or sent) a single Christmas card.
One thing that always strikes me about Christmas cards is the conversation that comes from opening each of those envelopes. The colorful pictures offer lots of prompts for speech. Equally, if not more important, are the photos that come inside the cards.
This year, try to designate those cards for language activities with your child. (If you are a scrapbooker, this may be painful. If so, make a photo copy for your child's activities.) Here are some short, yet effective, language builders to try with those Christmas pics.
- Name the people.
- Count how many people in each group shot.
- Sort the school pictures by boys and girls. Then count.
- Talk about the relationship of the people (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.)
- Use the return address and a map to locate where the people in the picture live.
- Describe the people in the picture (hair and eye color, clothing, age).
- Write a note to one of the children or teens.
- Sort the stamps by their pictures.
- Use pictures to locate people in your family albums or scrapbooks. Talk about those events.
- Sort family pictures according to the number of the people in the photo.
- Sort family pictures according to setting (inside vs. outside).
- Draw a picture to send to someone in one of the photos.
There are other ways to use Christmas cards to encourage your child to talk. Try saving the cards and use them for more language ideas even after the holidays.
Carol
