Positional words, also called position or spatial words, describe where something is: on, under, above, below, beside, next to, in front of, behind and between. They’re essential for following directions, early math and describing the world, and preschoolers learn them best by moving, building and playing.

Start with the body

  • Play a position-word version of Simon Says: stand beside your chair, put your hands above your head, step behind the line.
  • Use a hula hoop: jump in, step out, walk around it.
  • Sing and act out songs that use position words.

Move to objects

  • Hide a small toy and give clues: it’s under the blanket, next to the blocks.
  • Build a simple scene with blocks and a toy animal, then ask children to place the animal on, under or between the blocks.
  • Take photos of a stuffed animal in different positions and make a class book.

Connect to math and fine motor skills

Positional words pair naturally with counting and fine motor practice. Ask children to place five counters above a line and three below, then count them all. Tweezers, playdough and small manipulatives turn the same directions into hand-strengthening work.

Keep the language consistent

  • Introduce a few words at a time, often as pairs of opposites, such as above and below or in front of and behind.
  • Model full sentences: “The capybara is beside the pond.”
  • Invite children to give directions to a partner, which builds expressive language.

Why a friendly character helps

A favorite animal character gives children something to talk about and move around, and it makes repetition feel like play. Capybaras, semi-aquatic rodents from South America, have become a favorite with many young children thanks to their calm, friendly look.

A quick checklist

  • Can the child place an object on, under, beside and between when asked?
  • Can the child describe where something is using a position word?
  • Can the child follow a two-step direction that uses position words?

Ready-made centers

For ready-made centers, our Capybara Preschool Centers set covers positional words, math from 0 to 20, social-emotional learning and fine motor practice. It’s available on Teachers Pay Teachers.