Activities for teaching babies and toddlers

    

     Wa! Wa! Wa!  We may only be hearing the cry of a baby, but new research has found that baby's cry is actually influenced by the language spoken in the environment in which they live.  Kathleen Wermke of the University of Wuerzburg in Germany, conducted research which showed an "extremely early" impact of native language.  Even young babies are listening to language and learning.  It seems that it is never to early to introduce a second language to a child. 
     One of the best ways to introduce language to babies is through nursery rhymes, many of which have been around for generations.  Patty-cake is a popular hand game that all babies seem to love.  Both the lyrics and the hand motions are simple, and this game can be played with newborns and toddlers.  The parent or teacher holds the babies hands and claps in rhythm to the rhyme.  The lyrics go:

Patty-cake patty-cake, baker's man.

Bake me a cake as fast as you can;

Pat it and prick it and mark it with B,

Put it in the oven for baby and me.

     While the lyrics seem simple, babies just love to play patty-cake.  Not only is the child hearing English, but there is quite a bit of interaction between baby and adult.  Research has shown that the best way to foster language development is through human interaction.

     Finger plays are also popular for babies to listen to and watch, and they provide toddlers with an activity and song to learn.  The lyrics and hand motions of the following song are simple to learn and yet fun to do.  This traditional song can be sung to the tune of Frere Jacques (Are You Sleeping)--

Where is Thumbkin?

(Hide your hands behind your back)

Where is thumbkin?

Where is thumbkin?

Here I am

(Bring right hand to front,

with thumb flexing-up and down)

Here I am.

(Bring left hand to front, with thumb flexing-up and down)
How are you this morning?

Very well, thank you.

Run away.

(Hide right hand behind back)

Run away.

(Hide left hand behind back)

Where is pointer?
Where is pointer?

Here I am

(Bring right hand to front, with index finger flexing-up and down)

Here I am.

(Bring left hand to front, with index finger flexing-up and down)

How are you this morning?

Very well, I thank you.

Run away

(Hide right hand behind back)

Run away.

(Hide left hand behind back)

Where is tall man?

Where is tall man?

Here I am

(Bring right hand to front, with third finger flexing-up and down)

Here I am.

(Bring left hand to front, with third finger flexing-up and down)

How are you this morning?

Very well, I thank you. 

Run away

(Hide right hand behind back)

Run away. (Hide left hand behind back)

Where is ring man?

Where is ring man?

Here I am

(Bring right hand to front,

with fourth finger flexing-up and down)

Here I am.

(Bring left hand to front, with fourth finger flexing-up and down)

How are you this morning?

Very well, I thank you.

Run away

(Hide right hand behind back)

Run away.

(Hide left hand behind back)

Where is pinkie?

Where is pinkie?

Here I am

(Bring right hand to front,

with pinkie finger flexing-up and down)

Here I am.

(Bring left hand to front, with pinkie finger flexing-up and down)

How are you this morning?

Very well, I thank you.

Run away

(Hide right hand behind back)

Run away.

(Hide left hand behind back)

     Songs and finger plays are a great way to introduce babies and toddlers to English.  By making language learning fun, through games and music, we can help our children and students in their acquisiton of English as a second language.

 
Resource:  "Does Your Baby Cry in French or German?"  http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5A43TA20091105