Category: Speak to

Is your child interested in your keys? While you watch, offer them a turn to try and open doors with them. Can they fit the key in the door? Talk with them about what they’re doing like: “You’re turning the key but the door won’t open. What else should we try?”

As your child gets older, encourage them to take the lead at bathtime. Ask them: “What will you need for your bath? A towel? Clean clothes?” When they’re in the bath, you can ask, “What will you do first?” Invite them to choose which body part to wash and do it together.

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.

Take your child with you to get the mail. Check out the different stamps and help them compare. Ask them, “Are these two stamps exactly the same? How are they different?”

Try getting dressed for bed in a new way. Ask your child, “What if we closed our eyes while we put on our pajamas for bed tonight?” Stay close by them to make sure it’s safe. Afterward, share what it feels like to get dressed “in the dark!”

Take turns talking to your child about love connections. “I love you as much as a bee loves flowers.” “I love you as much as ants love sugar.” “I love you as much as a car loves gas.” Ask them to come up with one. Keep going back and forth.

As you feed your child, put a bright dishcloth, towel, or scarf over your shoulder. Do they notice it? Do they look back and forth between your face and the colors? Talk to them about the different colors or patterns as they do.

Talk to your child about how things feel on their skin: “Your shirt is soft.” “The wind is cold.” “The ice cube is slippery.” See how they react and continue the conversation: “You like the warm water in your bath!”

When you’re having a snack, talk with your child about what you’re doing. “When I bite an apple, it makes a crunch sound. When you have teeth, you’ll eat apples too.” If they respond or reach for it and it is safe, let them touch it. “It feels smooth, doesn’t it?”

Before you go out, grab some safe things for your child to play with and put them in a bag. While you’re waiting, reach into the bag and talk about what you find. “This is something for you to chew on. Here’s a rattle for you to hold. Let’s shake it!”