This Month’s Theme is: Teddy Bears

Language Development Activities

For Babies
Find a favourite teddy and while your baby is watching place the teddy in front of them, then hide it under a cushion. Next ask your baby "Where is teddy?", repeat the question several times before revealing teddy "Here he is!".  Once you have done this a few times your baby will take the lead in looking for teddy.</

For Toddlers
Gather up a selection of your child's teddy bears.  Choose two teddies and ask your child if the teddies are the same or if they are different.  You may need to help by giving an example "I think they are different. This teddy is big and this one is much smaller.  What do you think?" 

Watch out, your child might not think the same way as you.  If this happens don't tell them they are wrong, just ask why. It may be they are the teddies are the same because they are both bears, they both have two eyes etc, or it may be they are different only because one is cleaner than the other.  Remember to praise your child for their efforts.

Once our child is confident playing this game, you can ask their opinion and then say "Yes, you are right. I think they could also be different/the same." at this point give the opposite opinion from your child.  Remember to give a reason why and to explain to your child they where not wrong just there are two ways of looking at things.

Try these books:
(Always read the book yourself first before reading it to your baby or toddler to make sure it is suitable)

For Babies: Mr Bear Says Can I Have a Hug? By Debi Gliori
For Toddlers: We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury and Michael Rosen

Songs for this Month

• Teddy Bears Picnic
• The Bear Went Over the Mountain
• Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
• Bears are sleeping
• Marching Bears
• Round and Round the Garden
• Goldilocks
• One Teddy on a Trampoline

This Months Signs

• Bear: Clawed hands cross infront of chest
• Bowl:Mime a bowl shape with both hands
• Chair:Fists make small downward movement as if pushing in a chair
• House: Make a roof shape with your hands
• Teddy Bear:Hands are crossed infront of chest and make a cuddle gesture