Happy Healthy Mouths
Smile Vocabulary
Beginner
Talk about the parts of your mouth, together naming each part.
Tip: Using a mirror to point to the parts in their mouth or your mouth such as teeth, lips, tongue, gums, etc.)
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Intermediate
Find oral health items in your house and together talk about the name and purpose of each item.
Tip: Find items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, gums, mouthwash, etc. Together sound out the letters in each item's name.
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Experienced
Write the words of the oral health items on paper and cut them out. Have your child match the words to the item.
Tip: Have your child read the word to you, sounding out each letter. Then match the words to each item.
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Why is this important?
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Matching words to items by reading and writing can enhance your child’s vocabulary and print awareness.
Reference: Puranik, C. S., Lonigan, C. J., & Kim, Y.-S. (2011). Contributions of emergent literacy skills to name writing, letter writing, and spelling in preschool children. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 26(4), 465–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2011.03.002