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Body Talk
Teaching Your Toddler Body Parts Through Play
By Carma Haley Shoemaker
– Sing the old song, "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes." Start out slowly, each person touching each body part along with the lyrics. Then speed up until everyone collapses in giggles.
"I also used drive time to slip teaching into our conversation," says Singer. "I will ask questions like, 'Look at that dog. He's smelling with his, what?' Or, 'That man has a hat on his, what?' This makes even sitting in the car fun and educational."
"My advice to other parents is that this should be a no pressure learning experience for both the toddler as well as the parents who will better understand how their toddler comprehends new information," says Michael V. McCabe, vice president of Euro RSCG Middleberg in New York, N.Y. "Have fun with it and realize that this is a time to cherish spending with your toddler because as they get older, they'll be educating you about the ways of the world."
Many favorite toddler rhymes already include identifying body parts and imitating actions, and many others can be adapted to work. And if nothing else, you've made a memory and had a great time with your child. "Have fun," says Kostlec. "And remember, don't be afraid to be silly. Avoid the temptation to drill your toddler and make them show off, and integrate talking about body parts into your child's daily routine, and you'll be surprised at how quickly your toddler will learn – and how much fun you both will have."