In working with young children who have Language Impairments, my goal is to introduce as many new words as I can. So many of them communicate in short, choppy, ungrammatical sentences without any descriptive words. My job is to teach vocabulary and semantics.
Semantics?
se-man-tics
Definition: the meaning of words
Sometimes this is best done by using opposites. If a child already knows a word that can help you teach another word, use that to your advantage. Just first be sure he understands the meaning of opposites. It alone can be a hard concept for a child to understand. But when he grasps it, you can teach so many descriptive words.
If a child knows "old" but doesn't know "young," use what he knows to teach him what he doesn't know. Show a picture of an old person and a picture of a young person and talk about the differences between "old" and "young." An old person might have white hair and wrinkles. She might might walk slowly with a cane. A young person might be a kid who runs and plays. Don't forget to ask questions that ensure understanding like "Are you young or old?" and "Is grandpa young or old?"
Show pictures of lots of people and have your child use the words "young" and "old" in sentences to describe people. If you need to get him started, use a leading statement like "Baby Carleah is _____." It will seem redundant to you, but that's what will help him learn. "Grandpa Huber is _____." "The baby chick is _____." After getting him going, let him start and complete his sentences on his own. He'll feel a sense of pride and you'll praise him for showing you he knows and can use a new word.
Teach as many opposites as you can.
hot/cold
night/day
wet/dry
big/small
heavy/light
bright/dark
loud/quiet
hard/soft
fast/slow
up/down
happy/sad
long/short
sick/healthy
in/out
rich/poor
sharp/dull
over/under
* This post is written in honor of my Grandma Huber, who recently celebrated her 98th birthday and may appear "old" but still acts "young".
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