When your child points at something, talk back and forth about what they notice like, “You see the big truck!” Then you can take a turn to point something out to them and say what you see. Do they turn to look at it? Do they point or name the object?
Category: 6 Loving Habits
Describe what you see
Almost everything is new to your child in their first year. So describe what you see. “There goes the yellow school bus. Beep beep!” Let them see, hear, smell, and even touch things, if possible. Notice what they’re interested in and have a back-and-forth chat. “You see the big tree? What else do you see?”
Texture Play
As you help your child dress, put different kinds of fabrics on their bare feet. Talk about how a soft blanket feels on their toes. Then switch to something else, like a scratchy sweater, and describe it. Watch your baby’s reactions and then respond. Which textures do they smile at or pull away from?
Water Play
Help your child get used to the bathwater by sprinkling some warm water on their toes, feet, legs, and tummy. Watch how they react to the water and respond. Let them know with your words where you will sprinkle the water next and name each part of the body as you go.
Singing Day
Make today a singing day. Instead of talking, try singing to your child about what you’re doing. Make up new words to a familiar tune or create your own! It might feel silly at first, but they love to hear the sound of your voice singing. Respond to any sounds they make.
Bed Time Relaxation Game
At bedtime, invite your child to close their eyes. Then imagine relaxing just one toe, then one whole foot, then one leg. Keep going through their entire body. Afterward, talk about how they feel. Give them a turn to lead you through relaxing.
Word Game
Play a word game with your child. Choose a word like “stop.” Ask them, “What happens if you take the ‘s’ away? It’s top.” Then add an “s” at the end—it’s tops. What other words can be switched around like this? Talk together about the different words, real and made-up. Have fun and take turns.
Take Turns Adding to a Story
Look for something you see that could start a story. It could be a picture or an object. Begin with “Once upon a time, there was a … .” Encourage your child to continue the story. Take turns adding to it. It doesn’t matter if the story makes sense, as long as you’re having fun!
Senses in Nature
Outside with your child? Name one of the senses like “see” or “hear.” Encourage them to share everything they notice with that sense, like the sun shining or birds chirping. Then it’s their turn to say one of the senses and your turn to share what you notice. Take turns using all your senses.
Talk About Sounds
Take a few minutes with your child to stop and listen. Ask them what they hear. Does it sound like anything else they know? Have them guess what you hear. Together count how many different sounds you each hear and figure out what they are. How many can you guess?