One of Noah’s favorite words these days is
Boo!
In hopes of working in some additional sounds, I was eager to leap to peekaboo. That’s how I came across this classic children’s book.
So many language concepts and so many opportunities for extension activities in this adorable picture book! The first page shows the child looking at a clue (the puppy’s tail) and saying “Peek-a-Boo I see . . .” Turn the page to find the item the child was in pursuit of along with text that names the item: My mommy, my daddy, me, my puppy, my train, my grandma, my grandpa, a bunny, a butterfly, my friend, and you.
American Sign Language: All these phrases Noah just happens to know in American Sign Language (ASL), so we were able to sign the entire book. Click below for ASL printable flashcards for family names. The graphics are from www.babysignlanguage.com.
And for the other words in Peekab00 Morning in ASL, click here: Peekaboo Morning ASL. If you are not familiar with these signs, you will want to use a free ASL site with video clips like www.lifeprint..com or www.aslpro.com to learn the sign and just use the flashcards as prompts or reminders.
Target Words: My, mommy, daddy, me, puppy, train (choo choo), and bunny are all words Noah can say. We used reading this story as articulation practice by me reading the words and pausing before the words associated with the pictures. Noah takes those cues well and will usually say the target word as I point to the picture. Depending on the mood he is in, I will often then repeat it back to him and wait for him to say it again two more times, refining his articulation as needed.
Language Concepts: This is a fabulous book for reinforcing the names of family members. Mommy, Daddy, me, Grandpa and Grandma are all used within the text. (Make sure to read the end of this article for a Family member extension activity.)
Sequencing: The nature of this book makes it a great opportunity for sequencing practice. Here are free printable PEC cards based on the story to use in a sequencing activity:
Peekaboo Morning Sequencing Cards
I cut, laminated and stuck a magnet on the back of these. Same idea as using Velcro for a PEC story board – just spicing it up a bit. As we read the book, Noah finds the PEC that matches the object on the page and places it in order on a metal cookie sheet, refrigerator or (metal) door.
Repetitive Phrases: “Peekaboo, I see . . .” appears on each two-page spread, prompting lots of hits on this target word. To help elicit speech from Noah, I would cover my eyes and then slowly spread my fingers apart and say “Peek-a-Boo.” He would join in and say “Boo!” Then I would go back and say “peek” until he attempted the longer utterance of “peek-a-boo.”
Predictable Language: This is my favorite aspect of this adorable book. On most of the “Peek-a-boo, I see . . .” pages, there is a small visual clue as to what will be on the next page, a puppy’s tail, a grandma’s hat, a newspaper hiding a grandpa, etc. By drawing your child’s attention to that small detail, he can very excitedly guess what will be on the next page. Noah loved this, although he started signing butterfly halfway through the book, knowing it would be coming up soon. I love that he was so excited about what he knew was coming. His love of books is so encouraging to me!
Extension Activity: Make your own Peekaboo Morning book based on your child’s target words using photographs. Take pictures of his favorite people and things, and create pages with text that read “Peek-a-Boo, I see . . .” alternating with the pictures of the object and appropriate text labeling. This is a fun way for parents to make books about family life as well as for teachers and therapists to make books about friends. activities, and teachers at school.
For other language-rich picture book ideas for speech therapy, please visit my Language-Rich Picture Books and Extension Ideas page at http://wordsofhisheart.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=2647&action=edit.
