Introducing Prepositions

Prepositions can be tricky even for adults. However, they are also inescapable, so its best to begin young. According to the Ready for Kindergarten program (which has a number of wonderful resources) one year of age is a good time to introduce the prepositions up and down. Their recommendation for keeping your child interested while introducing the new concept is nursery rhymes. I've listed a few for you in case you are stumped for ideas.

The Grand Old Duke of York
The grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men;
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
And he marched them down again.

And when they were up, they were up,
And when they were down, they were down,
And when they were only half-way up,
They were neither up nor down.

This is a good rhyme for acting out the ideas of up and down. Have your children stand for the ups, sit for the downs and try to find a half-way point for the half-way up (which should produce some interesting results).

Jack and Jill
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.

There are additional versus. However, they do not focus on the up and down concept we are trying to convey so I did not include them. (Wikipedia lists a number of verses and variations if you are interested.)

London Bridge is Falling Down
London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.

While it only mentions down this particular rhyme does work nicely as a singing game in which you capture whichever child is under your arms when you sing "My fair lady". I know my girls love to play capture games--particularly if Daddy is playing. We like to play with the additional verse of "Take the key and lock her up".

Ring Around the RoseyRing around the rosey,
A pocket full of posies.
Ashes. Ashes.
We all fall down.

The cows are in the meadow
Eating buttercups
Ashes. Ashes.
We all jump up.

Another good singing game. My children like to circle until they are dizzy. Also, there are a number of variations on this song I've listed the one I'm most familiar with. If you'd like to see alternative verses visit Wikipedia.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.
And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout agin.

This is a good starting place for introducing the ideas of up and down because you can act out the prepositions by crawling up your child's arm as a spider and falling down your child's arm as rain.

These are just a few rhymes to get you started. There are many other rhymes you can also try. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Hickory, Dickory Dock to mention just a few (Although Twinkle, Twinkle only mentions up). Pick those you enjoy and sing them often. Also, when you are singing try stopping occasionally to let your child fill in the rhyming words. Remember rhyming is an important step on your child's road to reading. Now everyone sing together:

Hickory dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down.
Hickory dickory dock