HOW TO USE LANGUAGE AT HOME Using Clear and Consistent Language: Use complete sentences and words. Avoid baby talk! Toddlers learn to talk by repeating what they hear. So make sure you’re saying “little” not “widdle” like your toddler! Enunciating Slowly: Speak slowly but naturally so the child can process it. Being at Child’s Eye Level: This helps the child see your mouth move while speaking. Engaging in Conversation: The average child spends 3-5 minutes per week in conversation, while the rest is directive language. Avoid Correcting: We do not correct mispronunciations. Instead, we repeat the correct pronunciation so that they can hear it again. Engaging in a Dance of Communication: We give the child an opportunity to respond when we communicate with them. This can be in the form of repeating back what they are saying (especially babies). With babies, we can repeat their own words back to them until they can speak words (then we use words). Creating a Relationship and Desire to Speak: We create a loving relationship with the child by accepting their interests, dislikes, and choices. It is accepting the person that they are. This loving relationship creates the desire to speak. WHEN TO USE LANGUAGE When your toddler is helping to prepare food, give directions ("Please pass the carrot to me.") and use sequencing words (e.g., first, then, next, finally), name the ingredients and cooking utensils you're using and describe them using your senses, and use cooking verbs. Chat about what’s happening during transitions in your routine. “Look at the clear, blue sky today. The sun is so bright. Let’s put on our hats and sunscreen before we go out”. At the grocery store, name the items as you put them into your cart and describe them or talk about how you're going to use the ingredient. “This avocado is still green and firm. We will need to let it ripen on the kitchen counter before we can use to to make guacamole.” When you're helping your toddler learn new self-care skills such as toileting and getting dressed, talk through what to do or how things work. When you need to set a limit on your toddler's behavior, explain why instead of just saying "no". DESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE Don’t “Dumb Down “ language for children. Even if they don't understand it, they are absorbing it for later use. Children learn a language by being surrounded by it. Use adjectives to describe things. “Blue ball, Bright red car, Fast loud train” Adjectives and Adverbs add detail to descriptions that builds vocabulary. Children will start to speak using only nouns, but they are taking in all language. Highly descriptive language helps children to learn to differentiate between similar objects, and eventually, similar, but different, ideas. CHOICES Making choices develops the will. We give children the freedom to choose to help them learn to make decisions. Giving them choices helps build their independence. Children need the opportunity to practice making choices. In the Nido and Toddler Communities, we offer two choices, as that is all they can manage at this age. Experience the consequences that may come with the choice they make. There will be times when they do not have a choice, that is okay. Offer choices when you are able. CHOOSING BOOKS Real Life/Objects vs. Fantasy (i.e. Shopping, animals, vehicles, seasons ant etc.) Select books with beautiful illustrations and show them how carefully we hold them as if they were works of art. Always look for rich language and avoid baby talks. A-lot of details in illustration; new discoveries to discuss every time you read.