4.6

Understanding and using doing words

(verbs) in simple sentences

Why is this important?
This activity encourages children to build sentences using two key words: it
also helps to widen vocabulary.

This is an important step in the development of grammar.

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What to do
• You will need:
★ Teddy and doll (or two other favourite toys).
★ Cup, brush, item of food, flannel.
• Put out teddy and doll and two different items (e.g. cup and flannel). Say:
★ ‘Make teddy drink.’
★ ‘Wash doll.’
★ ‘Make doll drink.’
• You could also ask the child to make doll or teddy perform an action that doesn’t
need any additional items (e.g. sleep, run, hop, sit, wave, clap).
★ ‘Make teddy jump.’
★ ‘Make teddy sit.’
★ ‘Make doll sleep.’
• When the child has successfully followed an instruction,

ask ‘What’s happening?’
Encourage the child to use a two-word phrase to describe

(e.g. ‘teddy jump’, ‘doll drink’).
• If the child doesn’t respond or uses a single-word (e.g. ‘jump’), offer a choice:
★ Adult: ‘Make teddy jump.’
★ Child follows instruction correctly.
★ Adult praises: ‘Well done. What’s happening?’ (points to teddy).
★ Child: ‘Teddy.’
★ Adult: ‘Is teddy sleeping or teddy jumping?’
★ Child: ‘Teddy jump.’