Comparitives and Superlatives; Sandcastle Waterpark

Comparatives are used to compare two things: for example, "She is shorter than me."  Superlatives compare one thing to every other member of its category: for example, "She is the shortest girl in our grade."  Comparatives and superlatives are important elements of language because they allow children to make comparisons, which leads to critical reasoning and richer language.  Visuals often help children understand comparisons, and Sandcastle Waterpark is a great place to practice this time of year.

Image retrieved from http://waterparks.findthebest.com/l/302/Sandcastle-Waterpark-in-Pittsburgh-Pennsylvania

To practice, start with a comparison of the rides.  Gauge your child's understanding of comparisons by asking her questions.  Ask your child which ride is the tallest, which ride has the longest line and which ride is the furthest away from where you are standing.  Take it a step further by listing three rides, then asking your child which ride is big; then ask her which ride is bigger; then ask her which ride is the biggest.

Next, move onto modeling comparative and superlatives for your child as you ride the rides.  For example, you may say, "The Blue Tubaluba was fast, the Boardwalk Blasters was faster, and the Lightning Express was the fastest."  You may also say, "The Blue Tubaluba was fast, but the Boardwalk Blasters was faster."

Finally, ask your child to make her own comparisons about which rides were wet/wetter/wettest, which water was warm/warmer/warmest, etc.

For the most advanced, practice irregular comparatives and superlatives: good/better/best, bad/worse/worst, little/less/least, famous/more famous/most famous.

*Tip: If you would like to get more language stimulation out of this activity, ask your child why she made the comparisons that she did.  For example, "Why was the wave pool the most fun?" or "Why do you think the Dragon's Den was the best ride?"