To Think About:

• What communication skills does Linda use?

• How does Alice read and respond to Linda’s actions and words?

• What might Alice be learning about talking and listening as she plays with Linda?

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 Linda does:

• Shows curiosity about the snow.  Explores it to figure out what it’s all about.

• Starts playing a game with her mom by handing her snow.  (Repetition is how very young children practice and learn new skills.  Back-and-forth games like this are also good practice for how a conversation works.)

What Alice does:

• Responds to Linda’s gestures by saying, “What’s that?  Snow.  It’s cold.”  By using language to describe the snow, Alice is helping Linda develop both language and thinking skills.


• Follows Linda’s lead and plays a back-and-forth game, handing each other the snow.  This teaches Linda about taking turns. It is also a “conversation” through action.

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?