GUIDE SHEET: Book

500 WORDS TO GROW ON

BY: Kristen Kest

Program Year: 1

Supporting Your Child’s Development: This picture vocabulary book will help stretch your child’s vocabulary, an essential part of early literacy. The more words your child knows, the better he/she will be prepared for school. Labeling the illustrations in a picture vocabulary book will help your child learn “rare” words. At each illustration, besides introducing your child to the name of the object, have a conversation with your child about the object – where she/he might see the object, what the object is used for, etc. Keep “adding more.” If your child uses one word, add two or three more words to make a phrase. If your child speaks in 2-3 word phrases, add a few more words to make a sentence. And if your child speaks in sentences, add even more words to make more descriptive sentences. This technique will greatly help your child in his/her language development and school readiness.

Remember the following when reading a book with your child:

  • Have a good time with this book and the child!
  • Invite the child to look and listen.
  • Try to sit the child beside you or between you and your PCHP Home Visitor.
  • Show and read the title page to the child.
  • Show and describe to the child how to turn the pages and treat the book.
  • Read to the child in a clear, easy voice. Don’t go too fast. Allow time for the child to think about the story.
  • Stop at most illustrations to talk about them. Ask the child questions about the illustrations to help the child reason things out.

Encourage the child to point out and name:

  • Colors: Red fire engine, Gray elephant, Yellow bananas, Orange pumpkin
  • Shapes and Sizes: Long caterpillar, Tall tree, Round table
  • Numbers: Two bowls, One potholder, Three dogs
  • Relationships: The saws are hanging next to each other. The food is inside the refrigerator.
  • Textures: Soft fur, Sharp needle

Invite the child to tell about experiences related to the story and pictures:

  • What store do you like to go to? Why?
  • What vehicle would you like to ride in? Why?
  • How many people are in your family? Who are they?
  • What food do you like to eat?
  • Have you seen any of these insects? Which ones?

Have the child reason things out and make choices:

  • Which animal makes a good pet? Which animal would not make a good pet? Why?
  • Which clothes do you wear in cold weather? Why?
  • Can you show me the foods that are fruits?
  • Which things are furniture?
  • Which things to you use for climbing?

Remember throughout the home visit to:

ENCOURAGE the child to talk.PRAISEthe child for doing well.

ASKthe child questions.HELPthe child when needed.

LISTENto the child’s answers.RESPOND to the child’s answers.

Fun activities:

  • Play a game of finding items in your house of a particular color.
  • Play a game of finding items in your house that belong to a particular category, such as fruits, vegetables, clothing, toys, etc.

TheParent-Child Home Program, Inc. 2013