Using an increasing range of prepositions:
‘behind’, ‘in front’, ‘next to’ and ‘between’
Why is this important?
Prepositions are used to describe the placement of objects or people. They
help children describe the world around them.
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What to do
• Place several toys around the room – put them ‘behind’, ‘in front’, ‘next to’
and ‘between’ other things.
• As the child locates a toy, ask:
★ ‘Where is monkey?’
• If the child gets it right, reinforce by repeating back straightaway:
★ ‘Well done! Monkey is next to the lamp!’ and move on to find the next toy.
• If the child doesn’t respond or responds incorrectly, offer a choice, e.g.
★ ‘Is [the] monkey under the cup or behind the cup?’
• If the child is still finding the task difficult, model the correct answer, e.g.
★ Adult – ‘Where’s [the] monkey hiding? He’s hiding behind the cup.
Where’s [the] monkey hiding?’
★ Child – ‘Behind.’
★ Adult – ‘Well done, behind the cup.’