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  • 8.6

    Using an increasing range of prepositions:

    ‘behind’, ‘in front’, ‘next to’ and ‘between’

    Why is this important?
    Prepositions are used to describe the placement of objects or people. They help children describe the world around them.

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    What to do
    • Place several toys around the room – put them ‘behind’, ‘in front’, ‘next to’ and ‘between’ other things.
    • As the child locates a toy, ask:
    ★ ‘Where is monkey?’
    • If the child gets it right, reinforce by repeating back straightaway:
    ★ ‘Well done! Monkey is next to the lamp!’ and move on to find the next toy.
    • If the child doesn’t respond or responds incorrectly, offer a choice, e.g.
    ★ ‘Is [the] monkey under the cup or behind the cup?’
    • If the child is still finding the task difficult, model the correct answer, e.g.
    ★ Adult – ‘Where’s [the] monkey hiding? He’s hiding behind the cup.
    Where’s [the] monkey hiding?’
    ★ Child – ‘Behind.’
    ★ Adult – ‘Well done, behind the cup.’