Improve education for children with Down syndrome...

What do I need?

Materials

• a set of 4 See and Learn First Word Pictures picture cards (see below)
• a cloth bag (or other suitable container)

Vocabulary selection

The picture cards are listed in sets of 4 on the Looking at First Word Pictures record sheet. Introduce the sets as listed and use more than one set in a session if you are able to keep your child interested.

How do I do it?

1. Lay the set of 4 picture cards writing-side up on the table/floor.
2. Turn over one of the picture cards and encourage your child to 'look' at the picture.
3. Say/sign the name of the object or action as your child looks at you and the picture.
4. Help your child put the picture card into the cloth bag and tell your child that the picture is 'gone'.
5. Tell your child that there is 'more', and repeat steps 2-4 for each picture card.
6. When you have turned over all 4 picture cards, tell your child that the game is 'finished'. Praise him/her for 'good' looking and listening.

Extra words

Alongside the words on the picture cards, this activity also introduces the words: look, more, gone, finished, good

What else could I do?

• Look at simple picture books together, naming/signing the pictures for your child.
• During everyday activities, name the objects and pictures that your child is interested in, and sign the actions that your child is doing, watching or feeling at that time.
• Make a collection of real objects and toys to show alongside the pictures cards in See and Learn - First Word Pictures picture cards. For example, use a teddy to show 'sleeping', and show 'drinking' with a toy cup. If your child is just beginning to develop an interest in looking at pictures this will be very useful in keeping his/her attention.
• One by one, hide the set of picture cards under a cloth (such as a tea towel). Ask 'what's this?' and pull the cloth off to reveal the picture.
• Try laying all the picture cards out on the floor with your child then asking him/her to throw a bean bag on to them. Then look at the picture card it has landed on and sign/say the word.
• Use skittles, or make your own by decorating cardboard tubes. Place a picture card underneath each skittle, then help your child roll a ball at the skittles. Look at the picture(s) underneath the skittle(s) you knock down and sign/say the word(s).
• Repeat the Looking at First Word Pictures activity, but help your child post the pictures into the See and Learn post box after he/she has looked at the card.