Awareness of speech sounds
Will share an idea that is about making children aware of the difference between language sounds, which is part of linguistic awareness.
It trains the ability to LISTEN to words and sounds. You need post-it notes in two different colours, duplo people and cards from e.g. JuniorAlias, or other picture cards.
Choose the pictures you will use deliberately - the cards (words) must have certain target sounds at the start, for example S and F.
Make some "paths" across the floor or table. Here I have used post-it notes, with start and finish in the same colour, and notes (steps) in between. Feel free to start with two different tracks and sounds.
Each track has its own sound and you must agree on a marker for this. In one of my pictures, the child has written the letters (it's a 5-year-old who was quite interested in letters). But you can use symbols, for example, draw a snake for the s sound (the snake says a kind of "sss" after all).
The Duplos must compete to see who comes first in their track, and they get to go every time "their" sound is drawn.
When you draw cards, the child must listen to the word and try to decide which of the duplo people gets to take a step. If there is a word in S-, it is the track for "S" that is allowed to go. Place the card on the first step/note, and place the double man on top. (The child does not have to say or pronounce the word or sound correctly. Deciding by listening is the point at this level.)
This is how you continue to draw cards, until a Duplo is the lucky winner!
?? Hope you enjoy the tip!
PS: You obviously don't need to use Duplo. Perhaps a Lego minifigure, Lightning McQueen and your child's favorite monster would like to compete?
