Unlocking Language

Feed the monkey!

This simple activity is a great way to work on 1 key word instructions while keeping learning fun and motivating.

Try words like:
🍌 “Give”
🍌 “Feed”
🍌 “More”
🍌 “In”
🍌 “Out”

You can also model simple comments as you play, such as “yum!”, “monkey eating” or “all gone!” to help build their understanding and use of language.

The best part? You can follow their interests and build language into play naturally!

Blank Level questions are a fantastic way to build children’s understanding and language skills by gradually increasing the complexity of what they’re asked.

In this session, we paired Blank Levels with a core board to give visual support alongside spoken language. This helps the child process information, understand what’s being asked, and respond more confidently.

Using a core board doesn’t replace talking. It strengthens understanding by providing an extra visual cue, reducing the language load and making learning more accessible.

Whether you’re asking “What is it?”, “Where is it?” or encouraging simple reasoning, visual supports can make a big difference.

Supporting understanding first is often the key to building confident communication.

Have you tried using Blank Levels or a core board at home, in nursery, or in school? We’d love to hear how you use visual supports to encourage communication. Share your experiences or questions in the comments below!

Did you know that /f/ and /v/ are a voiceless and voiced pair?

They’re made in exactly the same way. Your top teeth gently rest on your bottom lip to create the sound. The only difference is what your voice does.

For /f/, your vocal cords stay off so you just hear the air: fffff.

For /v/, your vocal cords turn on, adding a buzz: vvvvv.

Using a mouth model helps children clearly see that the mouth position stays the same, making it easier to understand that the voice is the only thing that changes.

A simple visual like this can make speech sound practice much easier to understand and remember.