Hearing your toddler's voice is amazing. It’s like music to your ears. And her baby talk is just so adorable. But did you know that you can help her have little conversations with you?
HOW YOU CAN DEVELOP HER LANGUAGE SKILLS TO MORE THAN BABY TALK.
Helping your child develop her language skills may be one of the most enjoyable tasks you'll ever undertake. Simply because you get to talk to her, and listen to the wonderful way her mind works as she answers you. Her world is full of wonder and awe and newness.
TALK HER THROUGH AN ACTIVITY.
Look her in the eyes. Explain what you're doing as you are doing it. Speak clearly and slowly.
LET HER SEE YOUR FACE AS YOU SPEAK.
She can also see how you use your tongue, lips and jaws. She learns from watching you.
SPEAK AT HER LEVEL.
Think of your baby as an information sponge. She is absorbing everything around her. Don't use baby talk, or overly hard words. Stress the syllables. Speak properly.
LISTEN TO HER WITH TOTAL ATTENTION.
Build her confidence by showing her that what she says is important.
DON'T POINT OUT MISTAKES. SHE IS STILL LEARNING.
Instead, repeat the whole sentence saying the word correctly.
TRY TO READ EVERY DAY.
Make bedtime fun time. Read a story out loud. Children who read early and easily are those who were read to at home.
READ PREDICTABLE BOOKS.
Soon she'll be “reading” it by herself. Some good examples are: I Went Walking, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Peanut Butter and Jelly and Little Red Hen.
PLAY WITH WRITING.
Give her children’s stationery like crayons and colour pencils. If she's interested in pencils and paper, let her try.
PLAY OBJECT HIDE-AND-SEEK.
Hide a favourite toy and ask her to find it. Create simple adventures and make it playtime.
PLAY LABELLING GAMES.
Point to familiar things and ask her to name them.
ACT OUT FAMILIAR ACTION WORDS.
Like crawl, jump, eat, drink or sleep. She can use these words every day. So she practices every day.
MUSIC & MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR TODDLERS.
Introduce nursery rhymes, finger plays and counting rhymes. Listen to them on CD. Clap, whistle or dance as you show her.
PLAY IMITATING GAMES.
Like “This is The Way We Wash Our Face” or “I'm A Little Teapot.”
