Compound Words

Compound Words – two words join to form a new word that has its own meaning


• To develop the concept of word parts, help your child hear the parts (chunks, syllables) in compound words by clapping the two words while saying them (e.g., fireplace – fire place).
 
• Any objects (small toys, blocks, pieces of food) can be used to represent the word parts as your child says the parts.
 
• You say the parts with about a 1-second pause between the word parts and ask your child to guess the compound word (snow flake = snowflake).
 
• Play the “Say It, Say It Again Game” with your child (e.g., “Say raindrop.” (Pause for response.) “Say it again, but don’t say drop.”*
 
• If your child has difficulty with the previous activity, play the “Dog in the Doghouse” game. Use two coins, beans, or other small objects and a cup. Turn the cup upside down and pretend it’s the doghouse. Say a compound word, placing a small object in front of you as you say each smaller word, left to right. (Sit next to your child so “left” and “right” are the same for both of you.) Then, cover one object with the cup and ask, “What is in the doghouse?” For example, as you say the word rainbow, place a bean in front of you for rain and another bean for bow. Cover the bean to the left with the cup. Ask, “What is in the doghouse? Your child should say, “rain.”*
 
*Robertson, C., Salter, W. (1998) Take Home Phonological Awareness. LinguiSystems, Inc., pp. 39, 41 (out of print)