ManorfieldBox Clever
Box Clever uses play and creative storytelling to help children to learn new words and make sentences. Box Clever is being run with children in reception as a way to enhance children’s language skills. An adult supports small groups of children to play with ‘small world’ toys within a theme, e.g. ‘the farm’ or ‘under the sea’, and uses ways of playing and talking with children to help them to develop their talking.
Below are some strategies that will be used in the intervention that you could also support at home:
- Following the child’s lead – a child is more likely to want to talk about what they are playing with of they lead the play. Wait for the child to start the play and join in with them.
- Comment on what they are doing – this gives the child new words to use and shows that we are interested in what they are playing with, and are then likely to want to talk about it. Asking lots of questions can feel like a test and may make the child feel under pressure, which might then reduce the amount of talking.
- Change your language to make it easier to understand – children understand new language best if it at the right level for them, e.g. use short sentences, repeat words and use gesture when you are talking.
- Add language – if your child says one word or a short phrase, add one or two words to model more vocabulary and sentences, e.g. if your child says “hat on”, reply with “hat on your head”.
- Encourage turn taking – child and adult should be talking the same amount. If the adult is talking more, then watch the child play for a little bit – it is ok to be silent when you are playing as this might support the child to have more opportunity to talk.
- Praise – giving positive praise for talking and behaviour can motivate a child to use the new words and phrases at other times. Immediate praise for good things is usually more effective than correcting their talking and expressing disapproval.
