Improve education for children with Down syndrome...

What do I need?

Materials

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

Vocabulary selection

Select 4 picture cards from the words your child has shown he/she understands in the Selecting First Word Pictures activity.

As your child shows that he/she can understand more words, introduce these into Naming First Word Pictures.

Vary the words you use each session to keep your child interested.

How do I do it?

1. Place the post box on the floor/table and place the 4 picture cards in your bag.
2. Take a card from the bag, show the picture to your child, and say/sign the word.
3. Place the card picture-side up on the floor/table. If your child reaches for it encourage them to 'wait'.
4. Repeat steps 2-3 with another picture card.
5. Now ask your child to choose one of the cards, for example, 'which one do you want - cup or brush?' You could hold up the cards to encourage your child to choose one.
6. Wait, to give your child the chance to either:
   1. reach for or point to a card, or
   2. make an attempt at saying the word, or
   3. make an attempt at signing the word
7. Repeat the word/sign, for example, 'the brush, you want the brush', as you give your child the picture card.
8. Wait again, to give your child the chance to copy the word/sign.
9. Help your child post the card into the post box, saying 'in there', and 'bye-bye'.
10. Ask your child if he/she wants 'more', and repeat steps 5-10 with the remaining picture cards.
11. When the last card is left on the floor/table, ask your child 'what's this?'
12. Finally, show your child the empty bag, and tell him/her that the picture cards are 'gone' and the activity is 'finished'. Praise your child for 'good' looking and listening.

Extra words

Alongside the words on the picture cards, this activity also introduces the words: wait, in, there, bye-bye, more, what, gone, finished

What else could I do?

• In everyday situations, reinforce all of your child's attempts at spoken words by imitating your child, and reflecting back what he/she has said by expanding it into a fuller sentence (for example, if your child says 'da' for "daddy" you could reply 'yes - there's daddy'). Use the spaces at the end of the Naming First Word Pictures record sheet to note any words your child says or signs in everyday situations that are not in the See and Learn First Word Pictures vocabulary set.
• Use one of the See and Learn First Word Pictures baseboards and matching picture cards. Offer your child a choice of two pictures to match on the baseboard and ask them 'which one do you want?' Again, wait for an attempt at a word/sign before you give him/her the card.
• Lay 4 cards picture-side down on the floor. Point to one of the picture cards and ask 'what's this?'. Help your child to turn over the picture card, wait for your child to make an attempt to say/sign the word before you say/sign what it is.
• Offer similar choices during everyday activities and play, for example, 'do you want teddy or dolly?' Again, wait for an attempt at a word/sign before you give him/her the object.