3-year-olds are fascinated by the simple things adults do every day, whether it be laundry, dishes or food shopping. Is your little one always eager to help you with these types of tasks? These routine activities provide a perfect way to introduce your child to the concept of beginning sounds while simultaneously checking a necessary item off your to-do list!
- your hand-written or typed grocery shopping list
- highlighter or marker (optional)
Step 1: The next time you go grocery shopping, bring your three-year-old with you. Create a special shopping list that includes items that begin with the first sound of your child’s name. This activity is about listening for similar beginning sounds in words. Therefore, it is not necessary for the name of the grocery item and your child’s name to begin with the same letter; they just need to begin with the same sound.
For example:
J-J- Giselle could find the j-j- jelly;
K-K-Kate could find the c-c-carrots.
Ch-Ch-Charlie could find ch-ch-cheese
Sh-Sh-Shayna could find sh-sh- shallots
Step 2: Read the names of the grocery items aloud to your child. Tell your child that you are going to go “Shopping for Sounds.”
You might say:
“Teagan, today at the store, we are going to look for a t-t-tomato, some t-t-toothpaste, a t-t-tomatillo and some t-t-turkey. All of those things start with the /t/ sound, just like T-T-Teagan!
Step 3: When you are at the store and find one of the target items from your list, hand it to your child. Tell your child that Teagan and tomato both begin with the /t/ sound. Invite your child to repeat the word after you, emphasizing the beginning sound.
You might say:
“This is T-T-Teagan’s t-t-tomato!”
Step 1: To make it easier, choose just one or two items and show your child examples. You might show him an empty tube of toothpaste that needs replacing or a store advertisement featuring a picture of the tangerines that are now in season.
You might say:
“Teagan, today at the store, we are going to look for some t-t-toothpaste. Toothpaste begins with the /t/ sound, just like T-T-Teagan!”
Step 2: At the store, lead your child to the appropriate aisle, and allow him to locate the target item. Tell your child that Teagan and toothpaste both begin with the /t/ sound. Invite your child to repeat the word after you, emphasizing the beginning sound.
You might say:
“This is T-T-Teagan’s t-t-toothpaste! Teagan and toothpaste both begin with the sound /t/.”
Step 1: Read the names of the grocery items aloud to your child. Tell your child that you are going “Shopping for Sounds.”
You might say:
“Teagan, today at the store, we are going to look for a t-t-tomato, some t-t-toothpaste, a t-t-tomatillo and some t-t-turkey. All of those things start with the /t/ sound, just like T-T-Teagan!”
Step 2: To add some challenge, see if your child can think of his own example. Ask him to think of something else that might be found at the store that starts with the same sound as his name. Add your child’s suggested item to your list.
Step 3: For even more challenge, expand the activity. You can encourage your child to choose items that begin with the /mmm/ sound in Mommy or the /d/ /d/ /d/ sound in Daddy.
You might say:
“What food can we find that begins with /d/ /d/ /d/ like D-D-Daddy?”
“What food could we find that begins with /mmm/ like MMM-Mommy?”
