As children progress into preschool and kindergarten age, it’s important to build vocabulary by learning the relationship between words and objects. Practicing this skill can be done in many ways, such as pointing out familiar items or labelling household objects. We love this I-Spy game shared by Busy Toddler. (Bonus - it doubles as a sibling activity that can keep two kiddos occupied and give you five minutes to yourself!) To set up, find some simple objects or small toys and set them up on a tray or contained area. Encourage them to “spy” something using different describing words, such as the colour, shape, or category of the object (“I spy a person”). To extend the activity, model what it looks like to ask yes or no questions; “Does it have wheels?” for example. This helps the child focus on specific attributes while also practicing social skills, like taking turns.
If you are headed on road-trip, Mommy Suite had a great adaptation of this activity to make an I-Spy bottle. Each shake can be a new game as it switches up what is being seen.
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