Often at snack time I hear the children saying silly-nonsense things, like “Happy Birthday Nose” or “Happy Birthday Goggle Head.”  Children love to make up words, phrases and invent their own rhythmic language.  This helps them experiment and play with language.  Don’t discourage such use.  It is just another stage of their developmental growth in language.  Play along with them and make up your own silly rhymes or just let them talk and enjoy listening to their giggles and free spirit.

Nursery rhymes and poems can help develop your child’s listening and speaking skills.  Try to add plenty of rhyming books to your repertoire of reading with your child.  Dr. Seuss books are infamous for nonsense rhymes and capture the children’s interest.  You can make up your own silly rhymes – “Wake up buttercup!” - “Okie Dokie Artichokie” - “Go to bed, sleepy head” “Take a seat, my sweet.”  Have fun and enjoy.  Before you know it, they will be teenagers….serious, sulky and emotional.