Scavenger hunts are fun for everyone, especially in the heat of the summer. Here are some cool ideas to use at home with your children. There are scavenger hunts for verbal and non-verbal children as well. You can also find fun tips for entertaining your kids at the grocery and other places where keeping them calm is difficult!
To find out more about these fun activities, please visit:
http://www.autismspot.com/blog/Summer-Fun-Scavenger-Hunts
Written by Nicole Fisher, Student Clinician, FIU
It is well documented that children explore the world and learn through play. You can promote your child’s language development through play in a number of ways. One fun way to build your child’s vocabulary, teach the function of household items, and promote auditory processing skills is to do a scavenger hunt.
Scavenger Hunt
Tell your child that you hid a prize in the house. It could be a cookie, a toy, or perhaps a quarter. Ask them to help you find it. Give clues that suit your child’s level of language development.
Level 1
Ask your child to find certain items around the house. This will help develop awareness of their environment while building vocabulary. Once your child finds the item have him or her tell you what it is used for. Leave a prize at one of the items.
Ex.
Find the bathtub
Find your toothbrush
Find mommy’s bed.
Find your bed.
Find the refrigerator.
Level 2
Ask question to elicit the place or object you want the child to find.
Ex.
Where do you sleep?
What do you put toothpaste on?
Level 3
Give more complex clues. Incorporate function, location, and prepositions.
Ex.
What do you use to sit on? Look under it.
Where do you take a bath? Look inside it.
Go to your bedroom and look next to the bear on the shelf.
Reverse Scavenger Hunt
The same concept can be applied to cleaning up. You can bring a bunch of items into the living room and have your child help you put the items where they belong. Ask your child “what,” and “where,” questions about the object. (ex. What is this? What do you use a spoon for? Where does it belong?) You can also give the child multilevel directions. (Put the spoon in the kitchen. /Put the spoon on the counter in the kitchen. /Put the spoon on the counter next to the sink in the kitchen.)
You can continue to increase the complexity of the directions as it suits your child. Furthermore, you can take turns. Have your child hide an object and give you clues to find it. Most importantly, be creative and have fun!
written by Julie A. Milian, Student Clinician, FIU
Read to your child for about 5-8 min. every day.
Books should contain simple pictures and language.
Describe the pictures, name and point to the animals, objects and people in the story.
Ask lots of WH questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why. i.e., Who is this? What is she/he doing? Where are they going?
Play with your child for about 15-25 min every day.
Puzzles: animals, transportation, numbers, and alphabet puzzles are great.
Ball: throw and catch
Toy Animals: hide an animal and describe it your child will have to guess. Take turns hiding and guessing.
Name body parts and identify what you do with them.
i.e., I walk with my feet, I eat with my mouth.
Ask them questions that requires a choice.
i. e., Do you want juice or milk? Do you want apple or grapes?
i. e., Do you want a blue or red shirt?
Count and sing as much as you can.
You can count cans, apples, bananas, etc. at the store while food shopping.
Sing on the way to the store or while bathing your child.
Use two words to comment with their newly learned vocabulary.
i,e., gimme apple, more ball, yummy juice
written by Julie A. Milian, Student Clinician, FIU
Language impairment affects many aspects of the person’s life. Communication is essential for learning, social interaction and for the ability to be independent. It is important to consult an SLP in order to understand the reason for your child’s language delay. However, the following are some good activities that will generally stimulate language.
• Labial sounds /m, p, b/are a good start due to their increase visibility
o mama, papa, bebe - reduplicate syllable
o mami, papi, baby – variegated syllables
• Increase the use of vowel sounds /a,e,i,o,u/ specially when there is an apraxic component
o aqui, este, igual, otro, uno
o ant, elephant, in, open, the cow says moo
• Increase gestures for showing and requesting as a bridge to increase verbal language
o Showing by pointing things on the environment like ball, book, puzzle, juice, cookie, etc.
o Requesting by using the index finger to point to the palm of the opposite hand (here/aqui) or by raising a hand to the chest (give me/dame)
• Greetings hand waving
• Increase ability to follow directions with single commands as:o Sit-down
o Wash hands
o Clean-up toys
o Get your shoes
Don’t Forget
Always make eye contact when speaking to your child.
Verbal cues should also be reinforced in addition to hand gestures.
