Handy tips

FROM A POSITION TO A POSITION A PREPOSITION

1-When you introduce prepositions to children, follow the normal / typical developmental sequence. So, start with "in", then move to "on" and "under", then "beside". Afterwards, introduce "behind" and "in front of".

2-Don't introduce two prepositions at the same time especially opposite ones e.g. "behind" and " in front of".

3-Don't introduce prepositions having similar sounds at the same time e.g. "beside" and "behind".

4-Change one variable at a time e.g. if you are working on "behind", put a doll behind a chair, then a teddy behind a chair, then a ball behind a chair, etc….(i.e. different toys behind the same object) or do it the other way round, so put a ball behind a chair, a ball behind a sofa, a ball behind a box, etc.. (i.e. the same toy behind different objects).

5-As you show the child the place of objects, name the new position while emphasizing and stressing on the preposition used in the sentence.

6-Check that the child understands each newly-introduced preposition by checking his ability to follow different types of instructions as follows:

• Instructions involving his body, e.g. "Stand behind the chair" (if he is motorically able to follow such instructions)
• Instructions involving objects e.g."Put the ball behind the chair"
• Instructions involving pictures e.g."Where is the picture in which there is a ball behind the chair?"
• Answering "Where" questions e.g."Where is the ball?"