Read to your child
Read to your child in a comfortable place. Have her sit on your lap or next to you so that she can see and point to the print and the pictures. Show her that reading is fun and rewarding. 2 Show enthusiasm as you read with your child. Read the story with expression. Make it more interesting by talking as the characters would talk, making sound effects, and making expressions with your face and hands. When children enjoy being read to, they will grow to love books and be...
Take your child to new places and introduce him to new experiences
Talk about the new, interesting, and unusual things that you see and do. 3 Teach your child the meaning of new words. Say the names of things around the house. Label and talk about things in pictures. Explain, in simple ways, how to use familiar objects and how they work. That's a whale It's a great big animal, as big as a truck. It lives in the ocean. This is a vacuum cleaner. We use it to clean the floor. See how it cleans up the spilled cereal Help your child to follow directions. Use short,...
Talk to your child
Begin talking and singing to your child from birth. Your baby loves hearing your voice. Play peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake. Recite nursery rhymes or other verses that have strong rhythms and repeated sounds. Sing lullabies and other songs. Let your baby know that you hear her babbles, coos, and gurgles. Repeat the sounds she makes. Smile back. When you respond to her sounds, she learns that what she says means something and is important to you. Sometimes, you can supply the language for her. When...
Ask your child what she thinks will happen next in a story
Get excited when she finds out whether her guess was right. 5 Talk about books. Ask about favorite parts. Help your child relate the story to his own life. Answer his questions about characters or events. 6 Build a library, or book collection, for your child. Look for books at bookstores, garage sales, used bookstores, and sales at the library. Suggest that people give books to your child as birthday gifts and on other special days.
