Which activity can help develop a child's understanding of syllables?

Clapping the number of syllables in a word is an effective activity for developing a child's understanding of syllables because it engages them in a physical and auditory representation of the concept. As children clap for each syllable, they can hear and feel the rhythm of the word, which reinforces their ability to segment and manipulate the sounds within words. This kinesthetic approach helps solidify their understanding of how syllables function and enhances their phonemic awareness, a critical skill for reading and literacy development.

In contrast, reading a short story aloud primarily focuses on comprehension and narrative skills rather than syllable recognition. Writing a poem can aid in understanding rhythm and rhyme, but it does not specifically emphasize the breakdown of words into syllables. Drawing a picture related to a word may help with vocabulary development but does not directly address the concept of syllables.