Category: Speak to

Do you have some books or magazines around? Show your child the pictures. They will like clear simple pictures, especially of faces. Talk with them about what you see. How do they respond? Now talk about their response!

When it’s time for a hug, ask your child if they want a big hug or a little hug and then do what they ask. Then you take a turn and say whether you want a big or little hug. You can add other words, like a wiggly hug or a quiet hug.

Encourage your child to move and stretch. Put them on their tummy on a blanket on the floor and place a soft, safe object in front of them saying, “Here’s your soft bear!” Put it down just out of their reach. Talk about their efforts: “You’re working so hard to reach your toy!”

After changing your child’s diaper, roll their body from side to side on the changing surface. Stop and ask them, “Do you want more?” See how they respond. You can nod your head, saying, “You said yes, you want more!” or you can shake your head, saying, “You said no, you’re all done.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.