FOR PARENTS:
Idioms are phrases in which the figurative meaning can be quite different from the literal meaning. Out of this Word is designed to introduce 8-12-year-olds to some of the more common idioms in the English language (such as “spill the beans;” “piece of cake;” “pull someone’s leg”), and to stimulate their curiosity about where such expressions come from.
In each 12-15- minute segment of the program, two animated characters, who love to learn about words and language, introduce and explain several idioms. They explore their meaning, their possible origin, and also demonstrate how much fun wordplay can be!
- Watch with your child and talk about what you have seen.
- Explore the idea of ‘literal meaning’ versus ‘figurative meaning’ (e.g., a hot potato as in one just out of the oven versus a hot potato as a controversial subject) and how or why idioms seem to emerge. Challenge your child to invent an idiom of her own.
- Numerous children’s books and web sites offer a wide range of word/language games; encourage your child to explore and engage with some of these.
- Challenge your child to find new ways to express old idioms. For example, if all humans were bald, what might we substitute to mean the same thing as “a bad hair day,” or if there were no geese, what might we say instead of “wild goose chase” to express a futile exercise?
- How many idioms can your child think of? Can you introduce them to any new ones? Can you child teach you any idioms you don’t know?
