To Think About:

• How does Isaiah communicate with his mom?
  
  
• How does Idara read and respond to Isaiah’s actions and sounds?
  
  
• What might Isaiah be learning about speaking and listening as he “talks” with his mom?

To Learn More About This Topic:

• Read what experts have to say about this interaction
    
• Think about how your child is learning these skills
    
• Browse some parent-child activities that build language and literacy skills
  
  
• Read some frequently asked questions from parents like you

What the Experts Say About This Interaction

What Isaiah does:

• Pays close attention to mom and imitates the movements of her mouth, showing his desire to connect and communicate with her
  
  
• Hears the sounds of the English language
  
  
• Hears new and familiar words
  
  
• Practices “talking” and listening
  
  
• Learns that his mom will respond to his attempts at communication

What Idara does:

• Holds Isaiah lovingly and firmly to make him feel safe
  
  
• Gives him time to respond—letting him know what he has to say is important
  
  
• Responds back to his sounds—teaching him about the back-and-forth of conversation
  

Think About How Your Child Is Learning These Skills

• How does your child communicate her thoughts and feelings?
  
  
• What are ways you encourage your child’s communication skills?
  
  
• Think of a recent interaction you had with your child.
   
• How did he or she let you know what he was thinking and feeling?  How did you respond?
  
  
• How do you think your response encouraged his or her language skills?