Writing a shopping list? Talk with your child about what you need. Read outloud what you write down: “Milk, eggs, cereal.” Invite them to write or draw on the list too and to tell you what they’re thinking about when they make those marks on the paper.
Category: 6 Loving Habits
Grocery Shopping Conversation
When shopping with your child, point out what you see. Use lots of different words to talk about the taste of different foods. Maybe you could say, “There are some juicy, sweet oranges,” or “I bet those yellow lemons are sour!” Follow their lead and talk about what they point and look at.
Bath Time Story
Make up a story about someone who takes a bath just like your child. You can say things like, “First, they washed their hair,” while you wash their hair. Then add twist by saying, “Then they splashed in the water,” and see if they splash too.
Talk About What You See
While you’re with your child watch what catches their eye. Point to things you see and say what they are. “There’s a black bird and he’s flying!” or “The little girl is jumping.” Watch where they’re looking and say what it is.
Picture Conversations
Share a picture in a book, magazine, or news article with your child. Be sure to point at what you’re looking at and chat about it. For example, “Look at the blue shirt the lady is wearing—I have one too!” Or, “This is a picture of diapers, like the ones you wear.” Let them pick the next… Continue reading Picture Conversations
Using words IN and OUT
Invite your child to help you gather dirty clothes. Put them IN the laundry basket, pull them OUT. Then put them IN the machine, and pull them OUT. Use the words IN and OUT to describe your actions and see how they learn these ideas!
Describe foods you eat
What are all of the words you can use to describe the food your child is eating? Is the banana mushy, squishy, or slippery? Are the eggs warm, crumbly, and soft? Point as you say the words and watch them respond and reply back to them.
Point out foods you see
As you shop for groceries, point out foods you see. Play with the sounds of words as you show your child the juicy red “toe-may-toes” or the long orange “care-rot.” How do they respond? When they make a sound in response, copy it.
Use hand actions with your favorite song
Use hand actions for your favorite rhyme or song, or make up your own. Face your child and hold their hands so they mirror you. Vary your tone of voice from high to low and use a big, expressive way of speaking or singing.
Sing simple songs with repetition
Help your child recognize patterns and familiar words by singing simple songs with lots of repetition or rhymes. Can’t remember one? Make up you own! Encourage them to join in by repeating the words or by adding their own ideas.
