Early Learning Tips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Support Early Learning and Language Development

Talking

Talking to your child will give them lots of examples of how to use words to share ideas and get information. The more you talk to your child, the more opportunities they have to learn how to express themselves and understand what others are saying.

• Talk through or comment on your family's routines. For example, when washing hands you can say, "We are washing our hands. We are making lots of big bubbles."
• Comment on your child's actions or objects.
• Respond to your child's nonverbal communications with words. For example, you can say, "I see you reaching for the blocks. Would you like to play with the blocks?"
• Ask questions and pause for answers. If your child isn't talking yet, provide the answers to your questions.
  
  

Reading

Your home is where your child will get his or her first experiences with books and reading. It's never too early to start, so pick up a book and start reading aloud to your child today!

• Make reading aloud a part of your daily bedtime routine.
• Make the story come alive by reading with fun and excitement in your voice. Try loud, soft or silly voices.
• Go to your local library to get more books. When your child is old enough, let them choose which ones to bring home.
• Infants (6 months-12 months) do best with board books that are sturdy and brightly-colored. The most suitable books will have pictures of things they see every day - balls, bottles, chairs, dogs, etc.
• Younger toddlers (12-24 months) enjoy sturdy books that they can handle and carry. They like books that show children doing similar things like sleeping, eating and playing.
• Older toddlers (24-36 months) enjoy books with pictures and names of many different things, silly books and funny books, books with rhyme and rhythm, and repeated text they can learn by heart.
• Preschoolers (3-5 years) like books that tell stories. They enjoy reading about going to school or daycare, learning about different places, counting books, alphabet books and search and find books.
  
  

 

Sources:
"More Than Baby Talk" by Nicole Gardner-Neblett and Kathleen Cranley Gallagher
Reach Out and Read