What is a preposition?
A preposition is a word that indicates location and shows us where a noun can go. Examples of prepositions include above, below, up, near, and into.
When should your child begin to use prepositions?
According to The Rossetti Infant-Toddler Language Scale, children 33 months of age should use early developing prepositions such as in, on, under or inside.
Play The Preposition Chair Game
Place two chairs next to each other but slightly apart so your child can stand between the chairs.
First, practice directions with your child:
Go around the chairs.
Go on a chair.
Go under a chair. (If your child can’t fit his or her whole body under the chair, encourage a foot or hand to go under the chair)
Go between the chairs.
Go beside the chairs.
Go in front of the chairs.
Go behind the chairs.
Go over a chair (or both the chairs)
Next, give the same directions to your preschooler to follow independently.
Finally, encourage your child to take over and “be the teacher.” This will allow your preschooler to give structured sentence-length directions while you follow along.
Other Ways to Encourage Preposition Use
Learn a song to help you remember prepositions, and play a preposition game.
Carry over prepositions by modeling them throughout the day.
If your child has difficulty understanding and using prepositions, or you have other concerns about your child’s language development, please contact Stephanie Sigal, speech and language therapist, at sayandplay@yahoo.com.
Stephanie works with children in their Upper East Side of Manhattan homes.