Meet your feet!

The parts of the body are important vocabulary words that your child should know. Begin with an introduction to basic body parts: head, tummy, arms and legs. Point to a body part on a doll or yourself and say, Hello legs! You help me walk to the places I want to go! or Hello tummy! You are where food goes when I eat!

Simon says touch your elbow! Play Simon Says to reinforce knowledge of the parts of the body. When beginning the game, model for your child by touching your stomach, arm or leg when Simon (you) asks your toddler to do the same. Then play the game without your demonstrations. Can she remember? Once she masters the basic parts, get more specific. If she knows her arms, introduce shoulders, elbows and hands. 

Toddlers should learn to correctly name these parts of the body: shoulders, arms, elbows, hands, fingers, thumbs, chest, stomach or tummy, waist, hips, legs, knees, feet, toes.