Chatter Matters

Focus: Building longer and more complex sentences

The following activities will help your child think a little bit deeper about the world around them and to use longer and more complex sentences. Expanding your child’s oral language use will lead to significant improvements in their writing also. You may need to adjust the activity to suit your child’s level:

 For every simple question you ask your child, ask two complex ones. You can even do this while watching television or when they’re playing computer games.  For example; 

• Simple question: What game are you playing? (This only requires a one word answer)

• Complex questions: Tell me how can get to the next level? What do would you do if that happened to you?, Why did you make that move?

Remember: “Just because” is not an acceptable answer.

3. Encourage your child to use a range of ‘openers’ when starting a conversation or getting your attention (rather than just ‘Muummmmm’:

e.g.  I’ve just had the best idea..

       The strangest thing just happened..

       Mum, unfortunately..

       I would like to add..

       Would the best parent in the world please...

       I’m wondering..

You might respond quicker when you hear a different one!

4. Encourage your child to include the following parts when retelling a story/ experience: who/ where/ when/ what happened/ feelings/ why. Encourage them to use some joining words such as because, if, when, but, so, however, until, or, unless, then, consequently, before, after as, instead of. You might like to start a sentence for them to finish.

e.g. Just after breakfast, my brother and I had a fight. He used my Spongebob toothbrush. Yuck!!! I hate it when he uses my Spongebob  toothbrush because his breath stinks. Mum wasn’t very pleased with us and said we couldn’t have a treat after school.