Washing dishes can be fun, right?? 🎉 Real talk, my husband is the dishmaster at our house! BUT sometimes my girl and I help him out! 🤗 There are so many language opportunities in this all-the-time household chore!

⚠️WARNING: water will end up in places other than the sink and your patience might [will] be tested! For language learning’s sake, grab some towels and go for it anyway! 💦

WHAT ARE YOU TARGETING?

-Vocabulary

-all the things you’re washing

-cleaning supplies

-opposites (wet/dry, clean/dirty, hot/cold, on/off, empty/full)

-verbs: scrub, rinse, scrape

-glass/metal/plastic

-fragile

-sharp

-Sorting

-clean or dirty

-fragile or not fragile

-utensils

-Following directions

-hand me the…

-wash the…

-dry the…

-be careful!

-Social skills

-turn-taking

-problem solving (water on the floor)

-helping

STRATEGIES TO USE

-Explain what you are doing and why before you get started.

-Modeling: demonstrate what needs to be done “Mommy is scrubbing the dirty pot,” then say “your turn” and give the child an opportunity to follow your instruction/model

-Self talk! (👉🏻see previous #speechpartytip instagram post)

-Play! 🎉 Children learn through play so use this opportunity to engage your child in playful interactions. Make up silly songs, make the spoon and fork have a conversation, pretend to eat or drink, hide your hands or dishes in the bubbles.

-When giving directions, do your best to give a why! (Mommy is going to wash the knives BECAUSE they are sharp which means they could hurt you.)

For all of you multi-taskers out there 🙋🏻‍♀️ this can be such a win! You’re playing, teaching, and cleaning all at the same time! What are some other ways you have learned to multi-task with your kiddos?

🧡Mrs. Marci