Strategies

How to connect with your child:

• Get down to your child’s level, facing each other.
• Watch your child. Listen to your child. Follow his/her lead.
• Tune into your child. Play and talk about what interests him/her.
• Let your child actively participate. Language is best learned while doing.
• Imitate the actions and sounds your child makes.
• Use facial expressions and an interesting voice to show your child that what the two of you are doing is interesting and fun.

How to talk to your child:

• Have fun.
• Everything has a name. Use the name.
• Use short simple sentences.
• Use single words and then put them into a sentence.
• Use natural gestures when you talk.
• Tell, then show your child what you are doing.
• Help your child by repeating important words. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
• Give your child a chance to respond. Give your child at least 10 seconds to respond with sounds or gestures.

What to talk about:

• Talk about the HERE and NOW.
• Talk about the obvious.
• Talk about what you are doing and what you are feeling.
• Put your child’s feelings into words.
• Talk about what your child is doing and what he/she is feeling.