Two-word level

This might more accurately be considered the ‘two-idea’ level. There are many different combinations of sorts of words at this level and it is actually a very powerful developmental stage for children acquiring language at the expected rate and for those with language delay or disorder. We might tell about size+name, colour+name, name+verb, no+name and even ask a question: where+name.

ADJECTIVE(colour)+N two-words 1 Adjective + Noun Three games for practising different 2-word phrases and more. Print on A4 card. COLOURED CLOTHES has shirts, trousers, shoes and socks in 6 colours. These can be matched by colour group, sorted into sets of ‘all the shirts’ etc., used for making pairs like ‘blue shoes and blue socks’. PINK AND YELLOW THINGS was made for a little girl who only named these colours! The dominos can also be cut into individual cards to sort by colour, or group into pairs for the phrase ‘two pink bags’ etc. The ‘book’ can be printed 2-up and has symbol-support for some of the phrases. MOTHER AND BABY dominos are useful for learning the names of baby things (or you can make phrases like mummy dog and baby dog). See ideas on the game.

ADJECTIVE(size)+NOUN two-words 2 Adjective + Noun Simple pictures of early vocabulary in two sizes. Suggestions on the first page for use to make a barrier game to practise comprehension and expression, Lotto and Pairs. Children who use Makaton are likely to know the signs for these words. Print the games pages on A4 card for a reasonable size.

TRAINS two-words 3 Designed for young boys with social communication disorder (or other language delay). Encourage simple remarks. Play Pairs or matching. Ideas given for use.

DOGS and CATS two-words 4 For young children with delayed spoken language. Ideas for use given.

SORT VERB PICTURES two-words 5 Noun + Verb 6 pictures each for sleeping, eating, sitting and walking. Print on A4 single-sided card, cut and use for sorting, labelling, taking turns to make sentences for the set for one verb etc. Or make word cards or printed sentences for the pictures (depending on level) and use them for a reading-for-meaning exercise where the child has to read and place the card on the correct picture. Several sleeping pictures for example are useful for forcing attention to more than just one word in the sentence!