These and those - how to teach this concept easily to children

These and Those 

The word these " is used to denote more than one object that is near "

The word those " is used to denote more than one object that is far off "

Explaining "these" and "those" to children can be a fun and interactive experience. Here's a simple approach:

Start with the basics

- "These" refers to things that are close to us, near us, or in our hands.

- "Those" refers to things that are far away, not near us, or out of our reach.

Use visual aids

- Hold up an object, like a toy or book, and say, "This is a toy." (pointing to the object)

- Hold up multiple objects and say, "These are toys." (pointing to the objects)

- Point to objects across the room and say, "Those are toys." (pointing to the objects)

Compare and contrast

- Place two objects side by side, one near and one far. Say, "These is a pencil (near), and those is a book (far)."

- Use everyday situations, like mealtime, to demonstrate "these" and "those." For example, "These are my utensils (near), and those are the utensils on the other table (far)."

Make it interactive

- Ask children to point to objects and say "this" or "these" if they're close, and "that" or "those" if they're far.

- Play a game of "I Spy" using "this" and "that" to give clues.

Use simple sentences

- "These blocks are in my hand."

- "Those toys are on the shelf."

- "This is my book, and those are your books."

Be patient and consistent

- Remember that children learn at different rates, so be patient and repeat examples as needed.

- Use "these" and "those" consistently in your daily conversations to reinforce their understanding.

By following these steps, children will develop a solid understanding of "these" and "those" and be able to use them correctly in their own language.

Here are some activities to explain "these" and "those" to children:

1. Object Sorting: 

Gather various objects, like toys or blocks, and divide them into two groups. Point to one group and say, "These are the red blocks." Point to the other group and say, "Those are the blue blocks."

2. Picture Pointing: 

Show children a picture with multiple objects, like a farm scene. Point to objects close to the viewer and say, "These are the cows." Point to objects farther away and say, "Those are the horses."

3. Story Time: 

Here's story to explain "these" and "those":

The Story of the Fruit Baskets

There were two fruit baskets in the classroom. One basket was on the table near the children, and the other basket was on the shelf across the room.

The teacher said, "These apples are in our basket." (pointing to the basket on the table)

The children saw the apples and said, "We love these apples!"

The teacher then pointed to the basket on the shelf and said, "Those bananas are in the other basket."

The children looked across the room and said, "We want to eat those bananas!"

In this story, the teacher uses:

- "These" to refer to the apples in the basket that is close to the children.

- "Those" to refer to the bananas in the basket that is farther away.

Discussion Questions

- What fruit is in "these" basket?

- What fruit is in "those" basket?

- Why did the teacher use "these" for the apples?

- Why did the teacher use "those" for the bananas?

This story helps children understand the concept of "these" and "those" by showing how they are used to refer to objects based on their proximity.

4. Scavenger Hunt: 

Hide objects around the room or outside, and give children clues using "these" and "those." For example, "Find these pencils on the table" or "Find those leaves under the tree."

5. Distance Game: 

Place objects at varying distances from the children. Point to nearby objects and say, "These are close to us." Point to farther objects and say, "Those are far away."

6. Mirror, Mirror: 

Stand in front of a mirror with children. Point to your reflection and say, "This is me." Point to their reflection and say, "That is you." Then, point to both reflections and say, "These are us!"

7. Song and Dance: 

Create a simple song or dance using "these" and "those" to describe body parts or movements. For example, "These are my hands" or "Those are my feet."

YouTube Link -

https://youtu.be/TAb4S0CSpko?si=9TKGzYV4xG6SNd3O

Remember to adapt activities to suit your child's age and learning style, and to use simple, clear language when explaining "these" and "those."

Reference -

https://www.firstcry.com/intelli/articles/these-vs-those-whats-the-difference/