a busybugs play guide for toddlers 18 months to 3 years

www.busybugkits.com © BusyBug Kits Pty ltd 2013

A BusyBugs P lay Guide for todd lers 18 months to 3 years

Busy Body

Please note - The information contained in this booklet does not take the place of a Speech Pathology assessment and/or

treatment program.

If you are at all concerned about your child’s speech and language development, please ask your health professional

for a referral to a Speech/Language Pathologist.

Authors’ NoteFor clarity and ease of reading, we

have chosen to use only the pronoun ‘she’ to refer to the child in this booklet.

The toys shown on the following page are:

PlaydohPlayskool Mr Potato Head - SportyHead, shoulders, knees and toes Nursery Rhyme Board Book‘Where is Howie’s Owie?’ game by Learning ResourcesToes, Ears and Nose! (Lift the Flap Book) by Marion Dane BauerDoll’s World Baby BathtimeMagnetic Silly Faces - Top That!

Visit us at www.busybugkits.com for more information.

Icons explained:

Make Your Own (MYO)! Item can be easily made using details provided in this guide

Item may be found around the house

Toy options and details can be found at www.busybugkits.com

© BusyBug Kits Pty ltd 2013

Body Parts game

Mr Potato HeadNursery Rhymesabout the bodyPlaydough

Body book

What you need:

A doll or teddy for the bath

1

‘Make a face’ pictures

7 Games to P lay!

Look for Make Your Own instructions and ideas throughout this guide

Play together, play safe!BusyBug Kits are designed for you to use with your child.

“When we play together, it’s safe and I learn!”

© www.busybugkits.com

BusyBugs ‘play and talk’The BusyBugs ‘play and talk’ program is about helping your BusyBug (BB) learn to talk.

By following our simple tips on how to interact with your BB during play time, you will be giving them the best opportunities for developing their talking. So, before we go any further, here’s our number 1 tip:Make time for play!For young children, play time with an adult is one of the best times for learning to talk.

The BusyBugs HoneycombThe BusyBugs Honeycomb shows you the ways you can help your BusyBug develop speech and language skills.

These ‘play and talk’ tips are easy to use - to make it easier for you to get started, each game in this guide will have an adult ‘job’ (ie. one tip) for you to focus on during play.

Using the BusyBugs Honeycomb to guide your play will help you create the best environment for learning during your play time with your BB.

Let your BB

be the boss!

Talk simply

Don’t bug your

BB with questions

Do it again...and again

Sit on the floor

together

My turn, your turn

Copy your BB

Teach, don’t test

Give your BB time

Say what’s happening

Play your BB’s way

Make time for play

2© www.busybugkits.com

Jobs for Adults• Make time for play with your BusyBug (BB)!• SitonthefloorwithyourBB.• Let your BB be the BOSS of playtime: Copy what your BB is doing; Be interested in what they are interested in; Guide the play, but don’t take over.• Use simple language - your sentences should only be the same length, or 1-2

words longer, than your BB can say i.e. if your child is saying single words, your sentences should be 1-3 words long.• Talk about what is happening during play - make lots of statements (“teddy

sleep”) - don’t ask too many questions.• Play games you BOTH enjoy. Your BB knows if you are bored!• Do it again and again - your BB loves doing things over and over and will learn

through repetition of actions, rhymes, games and songs.

Your most important job - connect with your BB!

Look for your job in the key at the top of each game

Jobs for Adults

3

NOT like this!

Adult sets up all the toys

Adult asks too many questions:

“What’s this called? What do you do with it?”

Adult takes over the game:

“No, you do it like this”“We’ve done that

already…let’s do this”

Adult directs child:

“Do it like this”“Say ‘shoulder’”

Adult language is too complicated:

“Get the blue hat and the green shoes and put them on”

MORE like this!

“Blue hat”

“Put it on”

“All finished!”

“Roll it”

Let’s look!Take it out


Jobs for Todd lers• Saying words “arm” “roll”• Joining two - three words together “cut playdough”• Pointing to objects when asked e.g.Pointsto/findstheanimalwhenasked“Where’sthe____?”• Playing with dolly e.g. dries dolly after a bath• Taking part in nursery rhymes e.g. does some actions, attempts some words• Making a face with playdough i.e. thinking about how to create a real-life item with playdough• Listening to and participating in book sharing

Look for your baby’s job in the key at the top of each game

Jobs for

Toddlers

4

Why should I play?

• Play is important for all areas of your child’s development.

• Play helps you learn about your child.

• Playing together helps you and your child develop a healthy, happy relationship.

• Playing together enhances your child’s play experience and learning.

• Your child will respond to you having fun.

• Playing with your child can foster more creative independent play.

• Half an hour of daily interactive play can have a big impact on learning.

• The best toy is you!


BusyBugs Play and Talk ProgramBusy Body Activity 1. Mr Potato Head

What you need:

• Mr Potato Head toy

What you do:

1. Sitonthefloortogether.

2. Let your BB look at the body parts and clothes.

3. When your BB picks up a piece, name it. Pause and see if she copies you. If she does, praise her.

4. Show her how to put the pieces onto the ‘potato’. Say “hat”, “put it on”

5. Ask “Where’s ...(a hat/the shoes etc)?” If your BB has trouble, hold out 2 different items and ask her again.

This popular toy can be used in so many ways to help your child’s speech development...and best of all, he’s fun!

“glasses on”

Adult’s job: Toddler’s job:Say words or

phrases

Talk simply

5

“where’s a hat?”

Your toddler is hearing the words you are saying and linking them with the pictures. With repetition, your BB will begin to try and say the words or phrases.

Toddlers learn best when we talk simply. Use short phrases, not long sentences. As your toddler gets older, you can adjust your sentences.

© BusyBug Kits Pty Ltd 2013 - Permission given for reproduction for non-commercial use

Adult says:

eyes arm hat on in Put it on Where’s the shoes? push In there blue hat What next? all finished

Keep it simple! Use 1-3 words at a time.

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Adult’s job: Toddler’s job:

What you need:

• Nursery rhyme book or website for words to ‘Head and shoulders’ or ‘Head, shoulders, knees and toes’

What you do:

1. Stand facing your BusyBug.

2. Sing the rhyme through slowly, touching each part of your body as you say the word.

3. Sing the rhyme through slowly again. Pause and see if your BB copies you. If she does, praise her. If not, help her touch her body parts as you sing the song.

4. Once your BB is familiar with the rhyme, pause before you say a body part and see if your BB touches the part/says the word eg. “Head, shoulder, knees and... (pause)”

Repeat the song a couple of times each day for a few days and your BB will soon be joining in.

Rhymes and songs make learning fun. ‘Heads and shoulders’ will help teach your BB the names of some important body parts.

Name body parts

Do it again...and

again

Your toddler will link the body parts with their names. With repetition, she will begin to try and name the body parts.

6

By repeating rhymes, songs and stories over and over again, your BB learns to anticipate what is going to happen next.

More ways to play...

Other rhymes and songs that help with body parts include:The Hokey Pokey - “You put one hand in, you put one hand out...”If you’re happy and you know it - “If you’re happy and you know it...clap your hands, stamp your feet, nod your head, shake your legs/arms, wiggle your body”

“...Eyes and ears”

“Heads and...(shoulders)”


BusyBugs Play and Talk Program Busy Body Activity 2. Heads and Shoulders

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What you need:

• Playdough - buy or make your own• A mirror

What you do:

1. Sit together at a small table

2. Together, look at your BB’s face in the mirror and talk about the parts of her face eg. “Here’s your nose”.

3. Show her the same part on your face - “mummy’s nose”

4. Get out the playdough and say “Let’s make a face”

5. Talk about what you are doing as you get the playdough ready - “roll”, “squash”

6. Help your child put on each part of the face - “two eyes”. Look in the mirror if your BB needs help remembering the parts.


Make a face

Say what’s

happening

7

You can create anything with playdough! In this activity we use it to help your toddler learn the parts of the face. Why not carry on and make a body as well?

“rol l playdough”

“eyes on”

“al l f inished!”

Talking about what is happening right now helps your BB connect words to actions and objects.

Recreating a familiar item will help your BB learn the parts of the object, and will foster problem-solving and creativitiy skills.


BusyBugs Play and Talk Program Busy Body Activity 3. Playdough Faces

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Adult says:

roll playdough cut make a circle hair on Put it on squash it flat make a mouth soft “What’s missing?” green eyes all finished


What you need:

• ‘Where is Howie’s Owie?’ game OR • Body picture (download or draw) and sticky plasters (laminate picture for durability) • Non-permanent marker pen

What you do:

1. Before starting this game, draw some sores on the body picture using the non-permanent marker. Begin with the most obvious body parts e.g. ‘foot’, ‘hand’,‘tummy’

2. Put out the body picture and the sticky plasters to show your BB. Point to one of the sores and say - “Oh no. Sore hand!”

3. Give your BB a sticky plaster and say “Put plaster on”

4. “Oh no. More ouchie” (Use whichever word your child has heard, or uses, to describe a sore).


8

Children love plasters, and they will love putting them on the picture in this fun game, giving plenty of opportunity to learn and practise new words.

Copy your BB

Copying your BB’s sounds and words is the start of having a conversation. Adding a bit helps your child learn more words.

Point to

objects

By repeating this activity your child will begin to link the words with the objects. Soon your toddler will begin to find and point to some of the objects when you ask “Where’s the...?”


www.busybugkits.comBusyBugs Play and Talk Program

Busy Body Activity 4. Ouch!

“stick it on”

“look...sore arm”

What you need:

• Aninteractive‘lifttheflap’bookaboutthebody

What you do:

1. Let your Busybug open the book.

2. Read through the book using simple words to describe what is on the page.

3. Look at the book again, letting your BB select which pages to look at. Youdon’tneedtoreadthebookfromstarttofinish!

4. When your BB is familiar with the book you can start to pause before lifting theflaptoseeifyourchildcannamethehiddenbodypart- “Under my hat I’ve got two...(pause)”

Books aren’t just a bed-time routine. They are a great activity to enjoy in the day. Interactivebookswithflapsandtexturesarefunfortoddlersandkeeptheminterested.


Say words

Your toddler is hearing the words you are saying and linking them with the pictures. With repetition, your BB will begin to try and say the words.

9

Don’t bug your BB with questions

Don’t make story time a test by asking questions on every page! Say what is happening in simple language. Pause to let your BB join in.

If your child loses interest in the book, change activities. Try again the next day - your child’s attention to books will increase with repetition.



Busy Body Activity 5. Body Book

What you need:

• Toy bath (washing tubs work well)• Bath proof doll/teddy• Bath accessories - towel, wash cloth,

bubble bath, bath toy, brush/comb, toothbrush

What you do:

1. Before bathtime, let your BB look at the doll/teddy and the ‘accessories’.

2. Say the names of the items: “bubble bath”, “towel”. Praise your toddler if she tries to copy any of your words.

3. Say “dolly’s dirty. Give dolly a bath.” Help your BB undress the doll and let her put the doll in the bath.

4. Talk simply about what your BB is doing - “wash dolly’s face”. Only guide the play (by introducing a new item/action eg. “ Look. A boat”) if your child gets stuck.

Toddlers learn through copying real life activities in their play. Help your child follow the bathtime sequence with a doll. Things may get a bit wet - maybe try this outside!


Play with the

doll

Pretend play encourages imagination, and teaches your BB about how the world works.

10

Play your

BB’s way

Do as your BB is doing during playtime. Only guide the play if your BB becomes stuck on one action.



Busy Body Activity 6. Buddy Bath Time

Adult says:

wash face dirty in bath get comb in there take dolly out dolly’s wet dry dolly rub hands put him in Where’s the comb? finished all clean!


“brush teeth”

“wash teddy’s face”

What you need:

• Make a Face book OR • a picture of a head with separate eyes,

nose, mouth, hair and ears to stick on (download or draw).

What you do:

1. Sitonthefloortogether.

2. Show your BB a picture of a head without facial features.

3. Say “Look! No eyes!” HelpyourBBfindtheeyestostick on the picture.

4. Repeat for the other parts of the face.

5. Once you have repeated this activity a few times (over a few days), introduce the question “What’s missing?” Remember though ‘Teach, don’t test - use questions sparingly!

Different activities within a theme will give your BB the opportunity to practise using new words.


Say words

Say what’s

happening

Talking about what is happening right now helps your BB connect words to actions and objects.

11

“Look! No eyes!”

“put it on”

“What’s missing?”

Your toddler is hearing the words you are saying and linking them with the pictures. With repetition, your BB will begin to try and say the words or phrases.



Busy Body Activity 7. Make a Face

Adult says:

Look! no mouth on the face under the nose two ears What next? stick it on one...two “what’s missing?” nose funny face! purple nose tongue


Easy Home Play

• Your BB’s bath time is a great time for learning body parts. Sing a song such as “Everybody wash (feet), wash (feet), wash (feet), everybody wash (feet), just like me”.

• Make your own playdough: Here is a great recipe for making quick and easy uncooked playdough at home:

2cupsofplainflour 4tablespoonsof‘creamoftartar’ 2 tablespoons of cooking oil 1 cup of salt 2 cups of boiling water food colouring

Pop it all in a mixing bowl and mix!Itmaylooklikeitisnotgoingtomixwellatfirstbutkeepgoing.Ifyoukneadit together on a bench, it will come together nicely.

Let your BB help you make the playdough.

• Make a movable body picture with your BB. Download and print (or draw!) on cardboard an outline of a body. Cut the picture so that you have 10 pieces head, body, 2 arms, 2 legs, 2 hands, 2 feet. Help your BB lay out the ‘puzzle’ pieces in the right place. Connect the head, arms and legs with split pins (available from newsagencies and craft shops). Help your BB glue on the hands and feet. (Ours is from www.sparklebox.co.uk)

“pour it in” “blue playdough” “squishy!”“wash face” “mix it”“stick foot on”

12© BusyBug Kits Pty Ltd 2013 - Permission given for reproduction for non-commercial use

www.busybugkits.com BusyBugs Play and Talk Program

Busy Body Home Fun

Milestones1-6 months Baby coos and gurgles6-12 months Baby begins to babble

Babbling sounds like ‘dada’ or ‘da do’12-18 months Baby’s first words appear!

Likes to copy sounds and words.18-24 months Toddlers begin to join two words

together.Lots of new words being learnt.

2-3 years Child using 3-5 word sentences

Why is play important for your BusyBug?

Play is an essential learning tool in childhood.

Play can help your Busybug learn to:

TalkUnderstand what you sayUnderstand the worldInteract with othersBe socialBe creativeSolve problemsUse their hands and manipulate objects



Look what my BusyBug can say and do!Use this page to write down new things your BusyBug can say and do.

Date: ExampleKatie washed dolly’s back when asked and told me to “wash feet”! She said “green eyes” and “hair” when making a playdough face, and then said“finished”.

Date:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Date:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Date:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Date:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Date:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

References


Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network (n.d.) Handbook of Language and Literacy. Retrieved from, http://www.theroadmap.ualberta.ca/home

Im, J., Osborn, C., Sánchez, S. and Thorp, E. (in press). Cradling Literacy: Building Teachers’ Skills to Nurture Early Language and Literacy Birth to Five. Retrieved from, http://www.zerotothree.org

Kuhl, P. (2004). Early Language Acquisition: Cracking the Speech Code. Neuroscience 5, 831-843.Kuhl, P. and Rivera-Gaxiola, M. (2008). Neural Substrates of Language Acquisition. Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 31:511-34.

NationalScientificCouncilontheDevelopingChild.(2007).TheTimingandQualityof Early Experiences Combine to Shape Brain Architecture: Working Paper #5. http://www.developingchild.net

Tsao, F., Lui, H. and Kuhl, P. (2004). Speech Perception in Infancy Predicts Language Development in the second year of life: A longitudinal study. Child Development75(4),1067-1084.

Ward, S. (2004). Babytalk. London: Cornerstone. Young Children Develop in an Environment of Relationships. (2004). National ScientificCouncilontheDevelopingChild,WorkingPaperNo.1.

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to see our complete range of toy kit ideasto help your child learn.

More BusyBug toy kits to build:

Busy Bath Time Busy Farmer Busy Toddler

a busybugs play guide for toddlers 18 months to 3 years

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