Christmas! What a wonderful time to teach children about language – especially language concepts like opposites.

When you are out shopping for the perfect Christmas tree, pick up a smaller potted tree for your child to decorate. Remember the Hanen-principles of balancing comments with questions (and try not to ask too many questions)! Show your child the tinsel and talk about ‘long’ strings of tinsels and ‘short’ strings of tinsel. Show your child how to wrap it ‘all around’ the tree. Point out the different ‘coloured’ baubles, ‘big’ ones & ‘small’ ones, ‘shiny’ ones and ‘dull’ ones. Reinforce the concept ‘on’ when your child hangs the decorations ‘on’ the tree. Hang the decorations ‘up high’ or ‘down low’. Switch the fairy lights ‘on’ and ‘off’ and comment on how ‘dark’ or ‘light’ the room is. Put the star on ‘top’ and the presents ‘under’ the tree.

What a wonderful language learning opportunity! Have a very Merry Christmas!

© Marinet Van Vuren, DSC 2009

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