APIEVocabulary: Early Childhood Development
Early childhood development
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
Early Childhood Development
Master essential words for infant care, learning steps, and childhood behaviors through interactive practice and shadowing.
💡 How to use this lesson
• Guide learners through the word table for 5 minutes, focusing on memory tricks and collocations.
• Have students complete the 16 interactive items and check score feedback instantly before shadowing practice.
• First, read each word, its example, and memory tip in the table to fix the meaning in your mind.
• Next, solve all 16 practice questions, then listen and record your voice in the shadowing section.
Language Pattern Example
"Children aged between two and five learn to talk at an amazing speed."
Why this works: Notice that the age comes right after the word children.
Word Table
Theme 1: The First Years
| Word | Meaning | Common Collocations | Word Forms | Example Sentence | Memory Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| infant | a very young child or baby | infant care, healthy infant | – | The infant slept soundly in her arms. | 💡 Sounds like "in fancy" clothes for a new baby! |
| toddler | a young child starting to walk | toddler years, active toddler | – | The toddler ran across the living room carpet. | 💡 "Toddle" means to walk unsteadily! |
| babble | to make speech sounds without clear words | baby babble, babble happily | babble (n, v) | Babies babble long before speaking full sentences. | 💡 Sound contrast: "ba-ba-ba" noises! |
| wobble | to move unsteadily side to side | first-step wobble, wobble slightly | wobble (n, v) | The little boy began to wobble on his feet. | 💡 Picture a jelly shaking on a plate! |
Theme 2: Learning and Behaviour
| Word | Meaning | Common Collocations | Word Forms | Example Sentence | Memory Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| imitate | to copy actions or vocal sounds | imitate sounds, imitate adults | imitation (n) | Young children naturally imitate parents' words. | 💡 Word part: "image" = copy an image! |
| rhyme | words having the same ending sound | nursery rhyme, simple rhyme | rhyme (n, v) | We sang a catchy rhyme before bedtime. | 💡 Sounds like rhythm & song! |
| tantrum | a sudden burst of anger or crying | throw a tantrum, temper tantrum | – | He threw a tantrum when his toy fell down. | 💡 Sound trick: "tantrum" = angry temper explosion! |
Theme 3: Daily Care
| Word | Meaning | Common Collocations | Word Forms | Example Sentence | Memory Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| playgroup | a regular gathering of toddlers to play | join a playgroup, local playgroup | – | She meets other mothers at the weekly playgroup. | 💡 Word part: "play" + "group"! |
| stroller | a small folding chair on wheels for a baby | push a stroller, folding stroller | – | We pushed the stroller around the city park. | 💡 "Stroll" means a relaxed walk! |
| cradle | a small bed for a baby that rocks side to side | rock a cradle, wooden cradle | – | The mother gently rocked the baby's cradle. | 💡 Picture holding a baby in a curved arm! |
Practice Section
Match each verb to its natural noun partner
Select the correct column for each row action.
Complete the dialogues with words from the bank
Item 5
A: "Where does your son spend Tuesday mornings?"
B: "He plays with other kids at our local
____."
Item 6
A: "Has your nephew started walking already?"
B: "Yes! The active
____ took his first steps yesterday."
Item 7
A: "How is the newborn doing at home?"
B: "The doctor checked the
____ and confirmed she is healthy."
Item 8
A: "Is the baby standing steadily on her legs?"
B: "Not yet, she tends to
____ a bit when getting up."
Select the single word that fits the sentence meaning
9. When the tired child did not get ice cream, he began to throw a huge ___.
10. The tired parents gently placed the sleeping baby into the cozy ___.
11. Young babies naturally try to ___ the sounds and facial movements they see.
12. The mother pushed the blue ___ while walking along the garden pathway.
Complete the blank using the base word provided
Change the prompt word to fit the sentence.
Item 13
Her accurate ____ of animal sounds made everyone laugh.
(Prompt word: imitate)
Item 14
The happy baby ____ from the crib brought a smile to her face.
(Prompt word: babble)
Item 15
The small wooden table is so old that it ____ on the wooden floor.
(Prompt word: wobble)
Item 16
Can you find another word that ____ with 'cat'?
(Prompt word: rhyme)
Shadowing Section
Listen to the model pronunciation button (🔊) and record your voice for each item. Speak clearly into your microphone!
Group 1 • Collocations
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____Group 2 • Natural Everyday Sentences
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____Group 3 • Expanded Sentences
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____Group 4 • Key Target Words Focus
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