Step 1: Say this variation of the finger play The Little Turtle to your child. Add finger motions to go with the words.
“There was a little turtle that lived inside a box.
He swam around a puddle and he climbed next to the rocks.
He snapped at a mosquito, he snapped at a flea.
He snapped at a minnow and he snapped at me.
He caught the mosquito. He caught the flea.
He caught the minnow but he didn’t catch me.”
Step 2: After you have said the rhyme, provide paper and crayons or markers in various colors. Invite your child to play a listening and drawing game that will help him practice positional words and listening skills.
You might say,
“We are going to play a listening and drawing game. I will need you to listen very closely and draw each shape that I tell you. When we are finished, you will have made a beautiful picture! Are you ready?”
Step 3: Slowly say each step, one at a time. Give your child enough time to draw the item between each step. Repeat the step if needed. Offer your help if he is unsure of the correct location in which to draw on the paper. Below is a suggested list of steps:
“Draw a large green circle in the middle of the page.
Draw two small red squares below the circle.
Draw two small red squares above the circle.
Draw a small blue circle next to the large green circle.
Draw a happy face inside the small blue circle.
Draw a large brown square around your picture.
Write your name at the top of the page.
What did you draw? A turtle inside a box!”
Step 4: Praise your child for being a good listener!
Step 5: Encourage him to complete the picture by coloring the shapes, if he hasn’t already.
Step 6: Ask him to tell you about the illustration and encourage him to use positional words.
