Practice spatial words with one toy and a cardboard box

Choose one familiar toy and an empty cardboard box. Place the toy beside the box and say, “The bear is beside the box.” Then move it under, behind, inside, and in front of the box, naming one position at a time.

After four examples, give a direction without moving the toy: “Put the bear behind the box.” Let the child place it and describe where it ended up. If two words are easily confused, contrast only those two for the rest of the round.

For ages 3–4, offer a choice: “Is it inside or beside?” Ages 5–7 can take over as the direction giver and add a second object: “Put the bear between the cup and the box.”

Stop after six moves. The goal is hearing, using, and acting on position words, not memorizing a long list in one sitting.