- Talk about anything and everything!
- Playtime
- Talk about the colors, shape, and feel of the toys being used.
- Be descriptive when making requests such as “Can you pass me the round toy with the blue stripes?”
- Playtime
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- Cooking & Eating
- Name the foods you can see and taste in each dish.
- Narrate the steps and name the utensils as you work through a recipe.
- Shopping
- Share with your daughter a few grocery items on your list, and ask her to repeat it back to you. As you find an item ask her to recall what else you still need to find.
- Describe two pieces of produce and ask your child which one you should pick.
- Cooking & Eating
- Narrate what you do as you go through your daily routines. Soon your son will start to connect the words you say with the actions and objects around him.
- Point out the words you see in your environment. Look for words in your home on food labels, packages, newspapers, magazines, mail, street signs, and buildings.
- Celebrate when your daughter starts recognizing symbols around her. “Look, mom! A STOP sign!” The more she realizes the meaning of what she’s learning, the more excited and motivated she’ll be.
- Give your son his full attention when he tries to talk to you. You’re showing him that his words are important to you, which motivates him to talk and communicate even more.
- Pair a favorite book up with a favorite activity for a special story time. Take a book to read about colors with you to the museum, or a book about fall to your favorite park.
- As your child gets older ask questions that keep the conversation going. “What do you think of this rainy weather today?” “Where do you think all the rain goes?”.
- Remember that literacy is much more than reading skills alone. Talking with and listening to your child are all important ways you support the development of your child’s communication and literacy skills.