Understanding and using doing words (verbs) in simple sentences

Why is this important?

This activity encourages children to build sentences using two key words: it also helps to widen vocabulary.

This is an important step in the development of grammar.

What to do

• You will need:
  ★ Teddy and doll (or two other favourite toys).
  ★ Cup, brush, item of food, flannel.
• Put out teddy and doll and two different items (e.g. cup and flannel). Say:
  ★ ‘Make teddy drink.’
  ★ ‘Wash doll.’
  ★ ‘Make doll drink.’
• You could also ask the child to make doll or teddy perform an action that doesn’t need any additional items (e.g. sleep, run, hop, sit, wave, clap).
  ★ ‘Make teddy jump.’
  ★ ‘Make teddy sit.’
  ★ ‘Make doll sleep.’
• When the child has successfully followed an instruction, ask ‘What’s happening?’ Encourage the child to use a two-word phrase to describe

(e.g. ‘teddy jump’, ‘doll drink’).

• If the child doesn’t respond or uses a single-word (e.g. ‘jump’), offer a choice:
  ★ Adult: ‘Make teddy jump.’
  ★ Child follows instruction correctly.
  ★ Adult praises: ‘Well done. What’s happening?’ (points to teddy).
  ★ Child: ‘Teddy.’
  ★ Adult: ‘Is teddy sleeping or teddy jumping?’
  ★ Child: ‘Teddy jump.’