Interacting with your child
Top tips for interacting with your child
1. Follow your child’s lead by…
a) Observing your child and seeing what they like to play with.
b) Waiting and watching as they play, getting down on the floor and joining them in the play. If your child prefers to play on their own then play alongside, sharing the toys. Copy your child’s play.
If the play becomes repetitive, then copy and model a slightly different way of playing. This will help to develop the play further.
2. While following your child’s lead…
a) STOP! Encourage your child and wait for them to lead.
b) LISTEN! Listen to what your child says and observe what they are doing. Treat any sounds as meaningful communication and respond to these. Value all the communication your child gives you.
c) RESPOND! Respond by using one of these strategies:
- Explaining/commenting Describe what your child is doing or looking at. Use single words or short, simple sentences that are 2 or 3 words longer than your child typically might say.
- Repeating Repeat back what your child says, using an appropriately constructed sentence.
- Expanding Repeat what your child says but add 1 or 2 new words to develop talking.
4. Don’t be afraid of silence. Give your child 10 seconds to process information that you have said. Allow this processing time, because children have a lot to listen to and understand before they can give you an answer. If you give them time, you will be surprised by what they can say and do.
Web links
Check out these pages to find lots more information and great ideas.
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Last modified: Thursday, 28 October 2021, 11:06 AM