Hearing your toddler's voice is amazing. And even better when you can help them have little conversations with you.
Helping your child develop their language skills may be one of the most enjoyable tasks you'll ever undertake. Why? Because you get to talk to them and listen to the wonderful way their mind works as they answer.
Talk them through an activity.
Explain what you're doing as you do it. Speak clearly.
Let them see your face as you speak.
This way, they can watch how your mouth makes sounds.
Speak at their level.
Don't use baby talk or overly hard words. Stress the syllables.
Listen to them.
Build their confidence by showing them that what they say is important.
Don't point out mistakes.
Instead, repeat the whole sentence saying the word correctly.
Try to read every day.
Children who read early and easily are those who were read to at home.
Read predictable books.
Soon they will be “reading” it by themselves. Some good examples are I Went Walking, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Peanut Butter and Jelly and Little Red Hen.
Play with writing.
If they are interested in pencils and paper, let them try.
Play Object Hide-and-Seek.
Hide a favourite toy and ask them to find it.
Play labelling games.
Point to familiar things and ask them to name them.
Act out action words.
Like crawl, jump, or sleep.
Sing.
Introduce nursery rhymes, fingerplays and counting rhymes. Listen to them on CD.
Play imitating games.
Like "This Is The Way We Wash Our Face" or "I'm A Little Teapot."
Reference
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