It isn’t easy to be a parent (trust me I know from experience! :)).  As parents we want to give our children everything, but who has time for this!?  Why not combine your time in the kitchen with learning language!  Most young children are natural tactile learners and discover the world best when using their hands or bodies.  A really easy and natural way to work on language with your toddler is to combine learning, cooking and eating into one activity.

Step 1:  Gather some fruits and veggies lying around your kitchen.  Preferably include some less familiar items like shallots or tomato to expose them to new words.  I like to incorporate lots of colors, shapes, and  sizes.

Step 2: Take turns with your toddler to line them up from smallest to biggest. You can introduce new vocabulary words by identifying and categorizing them into small/medium/big or talk about which one is smallest and which one is biggest.

Other great concepts to target include labeling colors and shapes, talking about tastes (sweet, sour) and textures (smooth, bumpy, juicy), and counting how many there are.

Step 3:  Have fun and be creative!  You can even sing a silly version of “I like to eat apples and bananas,” by taking turns with your toddler to insert the fruits and vegetables you have gathered for this activity.

I like to eat, eat, eat tangerines and potatoes.

Step 4:  Don’t forget to have your child choose one or two to eat!

The point is to have fun and learn at the same time!  The best way to help our children become better communicators is to make daily deposits into their growth.  Take everyday activities and turn them into learning opportunities.  Have fun.