TOP TEN TIPS FOR ‘TINY TALKERS’!
- Try and encourage your child to play with lots of different things, but remember to let them lead the play. Talk about what they are interested in.
- Name the object – “elephant”
- Talk about what the object is doing“The elephant is drinking water”
- Talk about different parts – “The elephant has a trunk”
- Describe the object using size – “The elephant is big”
- Colour – “The elephant is grey”
- Position “The elephant is under the tree
- Texture “The elephant’s tusks are hard”
- Share books together.
- Dump the dummy during the day.
- Have fun with nursery rhymes and songs, especially ones with actions.
- Try not to let your child spend too long looking at TVs, tablets and phones, they love to interact with you.
- Get down to your Child’s level and ‘Face to Face’ with your child so you can see what they are interested in and they know you are listening.
- Help your child to understand language by using body language and pointing to the things you talk about. Use simple words in short sentences.
- ‘Modelling’ will show your child how to use words in sentences. Repeat back what they say, add one or two extra words and emphasise any words you want the child to listen to.
- Child: “dog”
- Adult: “Yes, the dog is sleeping”
- If your child says a word incorrectly, repeat the word back correctly, emphasising the sound they have difficulty with, but do not ask them to repeat it.
- Child: “There’s a bish”
- Adult: “Yes it’s a fish”
- Praise your child E.g. “You are listening really well” “Great talking”