The Nouns Game™

by Babs Hadjusiewicz January 30, 2014

Let's play The Nouns Game™ with your child of any age today. This talking game is a good way to build your child's oral language or storehouse of vocabulary and knowledge. You can even talk this activity with an infant! And it's another free activity you can do with your child anywhere you are. Here’s how:

First off, let’s remind ourselves that a noun names a person, a place, or a thing. Nouns are words that name those tangible or real things you’ll help your child see and touch today. As you say a sentence such as “We'll take the dog with us,” just emphasize the word “dog” that names an animal, a thing. Specific nouns and sentences you model depends on your child's age and interests and on the activity the two or you are doing in the moment.

As you play The Nouns Game, you can model added vocabulary and knowledge by occasionally saying this sentence: "Nouns name some tangible or real things we can see and touch.”

Here are some sentences you might say with your infant or toddler today:

Here is your teddy.
I'll get a diaper.
Here's your spoon.
I will open the door.
Here's your cup.
Can you look at the camera?

Wow! Imagine the hundreds of nouns you can model for your child today!

The Noun Game can easily entice kids of all ages. Try sentences like these with your toddler or preschooler.

What's your favorite book?
Where might we put your toy while we eat?
Oh, wat a mess I have made!
Would you like to help me make some cookies?
We will need to find the recipe.
Can you get the measuring cup?
Let's check to be sure we have all the ingredients.
Thank you for closing the drawer!

Research and experience tell us that oral language development prepares children for later success as readers, writers, and learners. When you model for your child the naming of words as nouns that name people, places, and things, your child gains all that vocabulary and knowledge for later use in reading and writing.

In Little Books of Nouns, you’ll find helpful rhymes and songs about nouns. There are accompanying talking activities. And as the book’s title suggests, you’ll find little books that you and your child can cut out, staple, and write in. Here are some of those noun rhymes and songs. Introduce and repeat each one until your child is saying it with you. Then add another rhyme or song. Soon, just like with the "ABC Song" or "Happy Birthday,” you’ll notice that your child chooses familiar rhymes and songs about nouns to entertain herself . . . and others!

What's a Noun?

A noun names

a PERSON,

or a PLACE,

or a THING.

So my name is a noun.

So is school.

So is ring.

And my city is a noun.

It's the PLACE where I live.

And a present is a noun.

It's a THING that I give.

Read and reread these next rhymes, then sing them to the "Twinkle, Twinkle tune:

Nouns are words I use to say

the names of people every day.

my mom

my aunt

my sister Jill

my dad

my friend

my Uncle Bill

Nouns are words I use to say

the names of people every day.

Nouns Name Places

Nouns are words I use to say

the names of places every day.

backyard

playground

classroom

hall

office

lunchroom

street

and wall

Nouns are words I use to say

the names of places every day.

Nouns Name Things

Nouns are words I use to say

the names of things I see each day.

bus

and car

and books

and clothes

spoon

and fork

and eyes

and nose

Nouns are words I use to say

the names of things I see each day.

Yes! And even high schoolers easily get pulled into such word games. The difference lies in the kinds of words the two of you throw out there. And in the challenge you present to one another to see just how long you can keep the game going.

The Nouns Game is a trademark of Babsy B.

Babs Hadjusiewicz

Author

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