Category: Play with

Shopping? Give your child a copy of your shopping list or a few of the store’s coupons, talking back and forth about what they’re looking at. Point to a word or picture on your list or on a coupon and say, “Look, we need bananas. Let’s go find some together!”

Take turns with your child making sound patterns. For example, say, “Coo, coo, ca, coo.” Ask them to repeat your sounds. Then ask them to come up with a new pattern, and you repeat it. See if you can make the patterns harder by going faster or adding more sounds.

Encourage your child to be a picture detective. Look at a picture in a book or magazine. It can even be in a newspaper or in an ad on a bus or train. Talk about the picture together. Can you find certain objects? Ask questions like, “Look at that boy’s face. How do you think… Continue reading Picture Detective

Start by asking your child to choose a word. Then say it together in different ways. Use a high voice or a low voice; a loud voice or a soft voice; speak slowly or speak fast. Have fun and keep it going back and forth! Take it to the next level by having a conversation… Continue reading Silly Speech

Give your child a small box and tell them it’s a “Treasure Box,” made to keep very special things. With their help write their name on top of the box. Talk back and forth about things they might keep inside. Store it in a place they can reach so they can use it.

At mealtime, put a message next to your child’s plate. It may be a picture you tear out of a magazine, a quick note, or a drawing. As you sit down to eat, invite them to share the message. Take turns talking about the colors, letters, and pictures you both see.

Draw or use your cell phone to take pictures of things in your room like a chair, a table, or the refrigerator. Ask your child to look at your cell phone picture and say, “Can you find it in the room?” As they get good at this, you can make it a little harder.

Talk to your child about getting mail and what it means. Then write them a note or give them a piece of junk mail or store flyer and say, “Mail Time!” After they look at it, take turns talking about the letters, pictures, colors, and designs.

Here’s a fun and easy way to add something new to your child’s favorite song or story. Use a few familiar objects as you tell the story or sing the song. If you are outside, they can be leaves or rocks, or household items like a spoon or toy if you are inside. Pretend these… Continue reading Pretend these things are part of your song or story

With your child on their back, fly your hand above their face. Pretend your hand is a plane, a bird, or a car. Talk about what you’re doing. Tell a story, make sounds, or sing. Do they grab your fingers, watch your hands move, or kick? Try different ideas to find what they like best.