Teaching Preschoolers The Use of First Person
In this Article
Young children have this cute habit of referring to themselves in the third person. They call themselves by name and that is how they talk to the rest of the world. Eventually, most kids learn to use first person while talking about themselves, but there are a few things you should do to speed up the process. After all, this is an important skill when it comes to his mental and social abilities!
Here Are Some Ideas That will Help Your Child Understand and Start Using First Person Correctly
1. Establish The First Person Through Daily Conversation
For your child to use this correctly, it is important that he first realize what the fuss is about! When talking to him, make sure you use the first person whenever relevant. “I am eating a cookie”, for example, should take precedence over “Mamma is eating a cookie”. Also encourage your child to use the words “I” and “Me” when he is pointing to his things and possessions. For example, ask him to say “My books” or “My toys” and correct him gently when he makes a mistake.
2. Use a Song That Explains The Concept Of Person
Music can be a terrific help with even the most complicated of lessons. Use a song that requires them to point at themselves while repeating “I” or “Me” or “Mine”. This established their identity and makes it easier for them to refer to themselves in the first person. One of the best songs you can try is “Head, Shoulders, Knees And Toes” – lots of fun and very useful!
3. Don’t Refer To Yourself in The Third Person
Research has noted that many kids learn personal pronouns very late because their parents and other members of the family keep referring to themselves in the third person. So, while you may think “Mommy wants this” sounds cute, and it was all very well when your child was younger, it may now be time to grow out of this habit and start using the proper person. Kids learn through imitation!
4. Take Some Help From The Mirror
While this is a trick that generally works very well for younger kids, the mirror is a relevant teaching aid even now. When your child is getting dressed up in front of the mirror, get him to point to his reflection and say “That’s me.” He can also play the body parts game and indicate his hands, legs, etc. in the mirror. This game helps build his sense of identity, which is the first step toward using the first person.
