TALK

When you talk to your children they learn language by listening. Talk to your child throughout the day, pointing out objects, shapes and things of interest. Respond to your child’s words and “babbles” with sentences that add to what they “say.” Discuss their day as you tuck them in to bed.

SING

When you sing to your child it slows down the language and allows them to hear the small sounds that make up the larger words. Enjoy A, B, C songs, silly songs, rhyming songs and clap to the beat! This helps children recognize syllables and the rhythm of the language.

READ

When you let your baby handle board books or help you open a book this is building book knowledge. When you point to things on the pages it brings awareness to words and pictures. Look for new words to increase vocabulary. Talk about the pictures. Reading is bonding. Don’t worry if you don’t finish a book!

WRITE

When children scribble and draw it is the precursor to writing. Words are symbols that represent language. As your children draw shapes they are learning letters, as they draw pictures they are telling a story. This helps them develop eye-hand coordination. Reading and writing go hand in hand.

PLAY

When children play with dolls, toys and props they make up stories. This helps them think symbolically and they learn that spoken and written words stand for real objects. Play teaches them that stories have a beginning, middle and end. As they express themselves through play they remember their own experiences, or imagine new.