Name Recognition

One quick and easy thing I do with the Pea each day is name recognition. She has demonstrated an ability to do this for a while now, since one of things she has loved to do outside is ask me to write her name in chalk outside. I remember her little itty bitty self saying "Claire" as I was writing it one day! I was so excited! So, at "Mommy School" I start by having her pick out her name from a set of names. I use the following as the set she chooses from.

After a while with this set, I typed out a bunch on the computer using different fonts. The idea is to make sure that she can identify her name using the letters. Using different fonts or cards will ensure that your child is not using other means to memorize what the cards say. (For instance, some kids may pick up on that their name has a tattered edge and use that feature of the card to pick out their name.) You want your child to attend to the letters that make up their name. We are on the third set of names and Claire is doing great with picking out her name. She likes to ask "Does this say Claire?" pointing to each card. Instead of answering for her, I say "I don't know. Does it say Claire?" And she answers, "No, that says Daddy." She now knows the words "Mommy", "Daddy", "Anna", "Claire", and our last name most of the time. I give her practice in other settings, such as at Gymboree. We use nametags there, so I write out our names and ask her which one says Claire. She is doing so well with it!