The holidays are a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with your children and foster their language skills in fun, everyday ways. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, New Year, or just enjoy a winter break together, there are many simple activities to help your child's language development. Here are seven themes to enhance your child's receptive (understanding), expressive (speaking), and written language skills during the festive season.
1. Share Holiday Stories
Holidays are often rich with stories—be it family traditions, cultural tales, or seasonal books.
Receptive language: Read holiday stories aloud and pause to ask questions, helping your child focus on understanding.
Expressive language: Encourage your child to retell the stories in their own words or act out their favorite parts.
Written language: Help your child write their own holiday story, perhaps about a special memory or an imaginary adventure.
2. Get Involved in Holiday Activities
Decorate, bake, or crafting are fun ways to include language.
Receptive language: Give step-by-step instructions and ask your child to repeat or clarify what they understand.
Expressive language: Encourage your child to describe the colors, textures, and shapes they see.
Written language: Encourage your child to write holiday cards, gift tags, or recipes as part of your celebrations.
3. Discuss Holidays Plans
Use the holiday season to spark rich conversations and thoughts.
Receptive language: Share daily plans and ask your child to remember details, like items to buy or things to bring to a gathering.
Expressive language: Encourage them to share what they are excited about or how they feel about family traditions.
Written language: Ask your child to create a holiday calendar or a list of things they’d like to do.
4. Learn About Other Cultures
Explore different traditions to expand your child’s understanding of the world.
Receptive language: Watch videos or listen to podcasts about celebrations from different cultures.
Expressive language: Ask your child to compare these traditions with your own and share their thoughts.
Written language: Help your child research and write about a festival or holiday that interests them.
5. Create a "Holiday Journal"
Capture holiday memories in a journal that can become a family keepsake.
Receptive language: Encourage your child to observe then summarize the main events that occurred each day.
Expressive language: Encourage your child to describe the events in detail, adding their feelings and reflections.
Written language: Let your child write or draw about their experiences, based on their skill level.
6. Sing and Make Music Together
Music is a joyful and interactive way to support memory, language, and fluency.
Receptive language: Teach your child the lyrics to holiday songs or listen carefully to identify instruments.
Expressive language: Encourage your child to sing along or make up their own holiday-themed songs.
Written language: Help your child write down the lyrics to a new song.
7. Reflect on the Year and Plan Ahead
The end of the year is a great time to look back and set goals for the future.
Receptive language: Share family highlights from the past year and observe your child's reactions as they listen.
Expressive language: Encourage your child to talk about what they enjoyed most this year and what they’re looking forward to in the new year.
Written language: Create a list of New Year’s resolutions, goals, or wishes, encouraging your child to write down their ideas.
Including language-rich activities into your holiday celebrations not only strengthens your child’s communication skills but also fosters meaningful connections and unforgettable memories that will last long after the festive season ends.
Illustrations created with the support of generative AI. Graphic enhancements by Robin Grant; TRICOAST Education.
Comments