Naming Words

Every story needs naming words — the words for people, animals, places, and things. Grown-ups call these nouns, but the name doesn't matter yet; what matters is your child noticing that stories are full of things with names, and that naming them clearly is what lets a listener picture a scene.

Try this: look around the room together and take turns naming things you see — "chair," "window," "dog." Then ask your child to name three things from a story you both know, like a favorite book or show. Notice out loud: "All of those are things you could point at or draw — that's what a naming word does."

If your child names something silly or made-up, like "dragon" or "the tickle monster," that counts too — naming words work just as well for imaginary things as real ones, which matters a lot once you get to inventing stories.