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Playing Peek-a-Boo is a great way to build vocabulary with children under the age of one.

Materials needed:

Light blanket or scarf

Familiar objects such as toys

Instructions:

Sit on the floor facing your infant

Place the object under the blanket or hold the blanket in front of your face.

Slowly and softly say "Where is (object/your name?"

Remove the blanket and say "Here is (object/your name)!"

Repeat several times ensuring to name the object each time.

Tips for Educators and Families:

Use simple and clear language.

Encourage families to incorporate a variety of daily objects to build vocabulary.

Observe the infant's cue for overstimulation or readiness to engage.

How this supports language development:

Promotes early communication skills and object permanence vocabulary.

Builds foundation for conversations via turn-taking. (Zero to Three, 2017)

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Pick a familiar picture book and go for a "walk" through the pages to investigate what you may see during story time. This builds literacy familiarity with children ages 1 to 3.

Materials

Board books or picture books with simple images.

Step-by-step instructions:

Choose a simple book with engaging images i.e Goodnight Moon or Little Blue Truck

Sit with the toddler and position the book in a way they can clearly see the pages.

Flip through the pages while pointing out and labeling each image or asking simple questions (What color is that balloon?)

Ask open-ended questions (Where are they going?" and pause for responses.

Read the book making sure you emphasize repetitive phrases and expressive tones.

Tips for Educators and Families:

Allow children to turn the pages to strengthen fine motor skills and build engagement.

Extend the learning by reinforcing vocabulary by connecting images to real-life objects.

How this supports language development:

Develops phonological awareness which is crucial for early reading skills. (National Reading Panel, 2000)

Encourages vocabulary expansion.

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Collect familiar objects or pictures of objects in pairs to help preschoolers identify basic rhyming words.

Materials

Small basket or bin

Familiar objects or photos in pairs that rhyme (I.E cat/hat, sock/rock)

Step-by-step instructions:

Place objects in basket.

Slowly and clearly introduce each object to the group.

Choose one item and ask the children to find another that rhymes with it.

Assist as needed while repeating the created pairs.

Tips for Educators and Families:

Extend the activity by using silly rhymes or songs like “Down By The Bay”

Model rhymes before promoting children if they are struggling

How this supports language development: (Piper 2025)

Helps develop phonological awareness to support early reading skills.

Encourages vocabulary expansion and word play

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Roll the dice and build a story together through words and pictures.

Materials

Story cubes or dice with pictures (Can be homemade with drawings)

Blank paper

Crayons/pencils

Step-by-step instructions:

Gather students in a small group.

Roll 3-4 story dice together.

Identify each item so children understand what the words are.

As a group create an oral story using all the images.

Have each child draw a part of the story or write a dictated sentence.

Tips for Educators and Families:

Encourage creativity while scaffolding sentences as needed (once upon a time there was a ___)

How this supports language development:

Builds narrative structure, sequencing, vocabulary and expressive language.

Strengthens foundation for written language through oral storytelling and illustrations.

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American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). (2022). How Does Your Child Hear and Talk?

National Reading Panel. (2000). Teaching Children to Read: An Evidence-Based Assessment.

Piper, T. (2025). Making meaning, making sense: Children’s early language learning (Updated edition). The University of Arizona Global Campus.

Zero to Three. (2017). Early Communication and Language Development.

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Join us for “Building Language Every Day” This workshop provides fun strategies for every age to support language development.

Activity #1- Overview of language development.

Refer to milestones for language development found here for young children and here for early school age

There are four interactive stations by age to experience different activities to support language development.

Station #1

Peek a boo

Facilitator will demonstrate each step

Families can practice using dolls, scarves and infant toys

Discussion: How can this activity be used in your daily routine? I.e diaper changes or feeding time

Station #2

Picture walk story time

Families can choose board books and practice doing a “walk” before reading.

Facilitator models how to label images, ask open ended questions and repeat phrases.

Discussion: In what ways does your child respond when you ask open ended questions?

Station #3

Rhyming Basket Game

Families can explore the different rhyming pairs.

Discussion: How can you make up rhymes in your daily routine such as during car rides, meals or chores?

Practice creating silly rhymes or songs.

Station #4

Story builders

Families can practice rolling the cubes to create their own oral stories

Children can draw their own stories and families share it out loud.

Discussion: How can you use this in your after school or bedtime routine?

Group discussion:

Which activity was the easiest or hardest?

How can you adapt these activities to include siblings or different materials available at home?

Handouts with activity instructions are available along with: (ASHA 2022)

Local library story time schedule

Age-appropriate book lists

Examples of rhyming songs or silly rhymes.

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To find events at the library closest to you, click here.

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Events _ San José Public Library _ BiblioCommons

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Board Books for infants

Books for Toddlers

Books for preschoolers

Books for Kindergarteners

Books for First Grade

Libros En Espanol

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Goal #1 Expand foundation of knowledge

Short-term: Complete a PD training on language acquisition theories and milestones via SCCOE (Santa Clara County office of Education)

Long-term: Enroll in training modules via CECO (California Early Childhood Education Online) focused on early language and literacy development.

Goal #2 Implement and reflect on language strategies

Short-term: Integrate one new language development activity into my weekly lesson plan next month.

Long-Term: Develop strategies to support each child's language progress to be reflected in the end of Fiscal year ASQ 2026

Goal #3 Strengthen Family Engagement for Language Growth

Short Term: Share 4 language development tips/activities with my families in my monthly newsletter for August.

Long-Term: Create at least two family engagement events for this school year to support language and literacy.

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1. NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children)

1. www.naeyc.org

2. ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)

1. www.asha.org

3. Zero to Three

1. www.zerotothree.org

4. First 5 Santa Clara County

1. FIRST 5 Kids Santa Clara County - FIRST 5 Kids Santa Clara County

5. Quality Counts California

1. Santa Clara – Quality Counts California

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FIRST 5 Santa Clara County is proud to serve the young children and families of our county as a funder, a resource, and an advocate. Below you'll find information and resources to assist you during the pandemic.

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FIRST 5 Santa Clara County - The First 5 Years. Make them count.

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FIRST 5 Santa Clara County is proud to serve the young children and families of our county as a funder, a resource, and an advocate. Below you'll find information and resources to assist you during the pandemic.

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Action Step 1:

Zero to Three Online Training: “Language and Literacy Foundations for Infants and Toddlers”

NAEYC Online Module: “Supporting Language and Literacy in Preschoolers”

Action Step 2:

One new language activity per week targeting vocabulary, rhyming or storytelling from ASHA

Document observations via Learning Genie DRDP

Action Step 3:

Join NAEYC "Hello: online community discussions on language and literacy

hello.naeyc.org/home

Action Step 4:

Send home families take-home activities from ASQ online