Communication Tools for Older Kids
Sep. 22nd | Posted by Nicky
5 comments
Most of you know that Jrock and I have requested two kids under 4 years old. SO, while it’s entirely possible we will be referred twin babes, more likely, we will be jumping into parenting a couple babe/toddler/preschoolers!
Something that you may or may not know about us is that we have hosted many many exchange students from all over the world, and I was an exchange student in a different country three times myself. So we have a pretty darn good understanding of culture shock at the teen age. To try to understand how our kids will feel, we take the overwhelming new sites, smells, food, people, etc, (that we know so well), mix it with the fear of leaving your homeland, and add in a lack of ability to communicate and a toddler’s understanding of “who the heck ARE these people?”…. we’d better be as prepared as we can be to support the kids through a possible really rough time.
One of the things we’ve done to prepare is compile communication tools that are toddler / preschooler appropriate. I’ll share a couple of the with you here:
Click on Picture to buy at Chapters
#1 – A picture book that shows everyday word and situations.
These are so that we can show pictures of what is happening, even is we can’t explain it. My favorites so far (that are totally making the trip over to ET!) are:
<- The Usborne Book of Everyday Words
This is an awesome little book – all the pictures are so very rich with details and claymations… the people are of all different ethnic backgrounds and the pages show amazingly beautiful detailed pictures of family structure, the house, the playground, shopping, etc. Just wonderful. (Thanks to my mom-in-law! We saw it at a Cherry Festival and she bought it for the kids-to-be.)
Although not quite as beautiful, it walks kids through situations like going to the doctor, dentist – a even travelling by plane. Very useful! A great gift from my friend L, who sells Usborne books in Calgary (if any of you Calgarians want to host a kids book party, leave a comment to that effect and I’ll email you!)
#2 – Amharic Language Training for Adoptive Families
Click to buy from the Author
Also totally essential – a language CD so you can talk to your kids in their own language (- or at least the language they have been conversing with caregivers in for the past few months.)
Total props to Amy Kendall who had the vision to create this wonderful language CD. The sentences are read by an Ethiopian man – slowly so you can follow. The little book is coil bound and purse ready, and all the words and phrases are written with the English pronunciation (NOT the phonetic alphabet – which is like learning another language altogether in addition!)
But the best part of this little book/CD package – the content! Amy is an adoptive mom herself, and she totally understands what we need to be able to ask and say:
“I am your Mommy“
“I will take good care of you“
“Are you hungry?”
“Do you want to go potty?”
“Please clean up“
“It’s naptime!”
“Don’t hit“… “
and my favorite – “This is our dog. He won’t hurt you.”
I love Lonely Planet Phrasebooks for visiting a country, but for communicating with your kids – this is definitely the best choice.
Interested in ordering your own copy? Click here. If your kids are over 10 months old when you pick them up, you probably should. (Or get tutored by an Ethiopian, but, that’s not really an option in Kelowna!) Anyway, way to go Amy – thanks for a great resource!
<- The Usborne Little Book of First Experiences
That CD especially looks awesome. I don’t know how old my little one will be yet (not at that stage), but I think that will be on my Christmas/ Birthday list regardless. Good picks, thanks!
The Simple Language for Adoptive Families is awesome! Amy Kendall is a genius and knows exactly the kinds of phrases that new adoptive parents would need to communicate to their new children.
We also had a picture book from http://www.abshirokids.com which showed pictures from everyday life with both English and Amharic words. We actually needed to order a second one because our Ethiopian three year old and his new 8 year old sister wore the book out…
We still use the “simple language’ CD quite a bit as our son is quickly losing his Amharic, as it was his second/foster home language, and we are planning to return to Ethiopia in the spring so are all trying to hang onto some Amharic.
Thanks, Rhonda!
I ordered the Amharic cd. They are sold out, so it won’t ship until end of Sept…but I have LOTS of time to wait!!!!
That language CD and book sound great. I know that some of those key phrases are ones I’ll need to know!!!