Baby Talks-Communicating with Young Children (Full version)

(Video uploaded 22/03/2020)

Transcript

Title:Baby Talks - Communicating with Young Children (Full version)

Scene: Baby Yau Yau is crawling on the floor.

Kin: Baby.

Scene: Baby Yau Yau is walking alone and looking around.

Yau: Where're mom and dad?

Kin: Baby.

Ying: Baby.

Kin: Baby, do you get what I mean?

Ying: Baby, will you respond to mom?

Scene: Baby Yau Yau looks down and finds her “strunken” father and mother.

Yau: Oh! Here you are! Let me sit down first, you have something to tell me?

Kin: Baby, that's great! Dad no longer needs to look up to see your face.

Ying: We can also see your expression and response clearly.

Scene: Baby Yau Yau lies down on the floor and talks to her father and mother.

Yau: Dad and mom, if you want to better communicate with me and have my response, please sit down and watch this video attentively. I will give you some useful tips when talking and playing with me. Don't miss it!

Heading: Baby Talks

Scene: Father Ah Kin and mother Ah Ying sit on the sofa, while baby Yau Yau sits on the floor mat and is playing her toys.

Ying: Yau Yau, look! Here's the ring!

Kin: Yau Yau, here's the ball!

Yau: Sitting on the sofa are my dad Ah Kin and mom Ah Ying. They talk and play with me whenever they have time. By listening and watching them, I can roughly guess their meaning. However, they do not seem to get what I am doing. Why don't they understand even when I've indicated to them?

Scene: Baby Yau Yau shakes her head, shows her father and mother the toy in her hand while they are busy telling Yau Yau what toys they have.

Kin & Ying: This ducky is beautiful!

Scene: The doorbell rings.

Kin: I'll get it.

Yau: Hey, somebody is coming! Who's there?

Scene: Father opens the door, auntie Ah Shan is standing outside the door carrying baby Alvin.

Kin: Hello, Ah Shan, Alvin!

Shan: Hello, Ah Kin.

Yau: Oh! It's auntie!

Shan: Hi! Let's take off our shoes first.

Kin: Yes! Let me help Alvin.

Scene: Auntie Ah Shan carries baby Alvin, walks into the house and talks to him.

Ying: See? Auntie Ying is over there! Hello! Let's say hello to Auntie.

Shan & Ying: Hello!

Ying: Yau Yau, say hello to auntie and Alvin!

Scene: Auntie Ah Shan puts down baby Alvin. Yau Yau and Alvin sit on the floor mat and play with the cooking set. Ah Shan, Ah Kin and Ah Ying are standing and talking.

Alvin: Yau Yau, mom and I come to visit you again!

Yau: I am so happy!

Kin: Yau Yau seems so happy to see Alvin!

Ying: Yau Yau, greet auntie!

Kin: Say “hello”.

Scene: Auntie Ah Shan squats down, face to face with baby Yau Yau.

Shan: Yau Yau, I am auntie, say “hello”!

Scene: Baby Yau Yau can see auntie Ah Shan clearly because Yau Yau is facing auntie Ah Shan. She cannot say Auntie, instead, she makes “ahah” sound happily.

Yau: ahah.

Ying: How come Yau Yau responds so well to you? We always talk to her but she's so responsive to you.

Shan: My daughter used to ignore me when she was young but there are ways to change.

Scene: Ah Shan, Ah Kin and Ah Ying sit on sofa at living room to discuss.

Shan: Talking to babies is a “two-way” communication.

Ying: “Two-way”?

Shan: First make sure you and the baby can see each other clearly. Also, you mustn't just carry on talking to her non-stop. You need to be aware of her facial expressions,
sounds and actions and then respond to her. Let the baby know that you understand her. Then she will be interested to talk with you.

Kin: But why was she ignoring us while we were chatting and playing with her
just before you arrived?

Ying: Right! She always ignores us.

Shan: How do you usually play with her?

Kin: Usually, she sits on the floor and we sit on the sofa and then hold the toy to draw her attention but she pays no attention to us!

Shan: Why don't we sit down on the floor and play with them and see if we see any difference!

Kin: Okay!

Scene: Ah Kin, Ah Ying and Ah Shan sit on the floor mat, face to face with baby Yau Yau.

Kin: Wow! It's really different from before. I can finally see her facial expression!

Ying: I get it now!

Shan: Mm!

Yau: Auntie is great!

Alvin: She learned it from the Maternal and Child Health Centre.

Scene: Ah Kin pushes a toy car on the floor mat forward and backward. Baby Yau Yau and Alvin are playing with the cooking set.

Kin: Let me try, Yau Yau here's the car! Yau Yau? Why's she ignoring me?

Shan: You're right to bend down to talk to her but did you notice they are playing with a cooking set? If you want your baby to respond to you, you should join in with their activity so they will pay attention and give you a proper response.

Ying: I get it.

Scene: Ah Kin picks up a toy cup, Ah Ying picks up a toy teapot and join playing cooking time with baby Yau Yau together.

Kin: Do you want some tea?

Shan: Your baby learns a lot from playing with you.

Scene: Ah Shan turns to Alvin to join him playing with the toy rice cooker by picking up a toy and putting it into toy rice cooker.

Shan: Shall we put it in? Put it in!

Scene: Baby Alvin imitates Ah Shan, picking up a toy and putting it into a toy rice cooker.

Shan: Yes, Alvin can put them into the cooker. Good!

Ying: I see, when Alvin picks something up, you teach him to put it inside.

Kin: And you praise him for doing so. This is what you mean by responding to the baby.

Shan: That's right, that's it!

Yau: Your mom is terrific! She teaches you while playing with you. Also she always praises you. It would be great if my mom and dad did this.

Alvin: Yau Yau, my mom and dad also had to learn before they knew how to do it! Uncle and auntie look smart. They will learn quickly.

Yau: Hope they pick it up fast.

Scene: Ah Kin is carrying Yau Yau, Ah Ying is pushing a stroller, Ah Kay and Ah Kam are pushing another stroller, going to the park together. They meet Ah Shan, Ah On and baby Alvin at a pavilion.

Kin: Oh! It's raining. Let's get under shelter, OK?

Kam: OK! Hi! You're early, hello!

Shan & On: Hello there.

Kin: Yau Yau, let's sit down.

Scene: Ah Kin put baby Yau Yau back into the stroller.

Kam: I'm thirsty, let's buy some drinks?

Kin: I'll go with you! You want anything?

Kay: No, thanks.

Kam: Let's go!

Scene: The three mothers, Ah Ying, Ah Kay and Ah Shan, and Ah On sit on a bench in the pavilion, the three babies sit in their strollers.

Ying: Ah Shan, we followed what you said when playing with Yau Yau. We all really enjoy the play and she talks more.

Shan: That's good! Really good!

Kay: Yes, my Jo Jo also talks a lot more recently!

On: What does she say?

Kay: I don't know! She makes some sounds and she likes to talk to me.

Yau: Jo Jo, I'm really happy to see you again.

Jo: Yau Yau, Alvin said your mom and dad are learning how to communicate with you.

Alvin: Right, my mom taught them.

Yau: In the past, I had to look up before I could see them. It is different now. They sit down on the floor or lift me up when talking to me.

Jo : Great! But sometimes, adults are just careless. Just like my mum, once we were waiting for the lift. I wanted to press the lift button but she thought I was being naughty. But my dad knew what I wanted and taught me to say the word “button”.

Scene: Father Ah Kam, mother Ah Kay and baby Jo Jo are waiting for an elevator. Jo Jo stretches out her arm trying to press the elevator button.

Kay: Jo Jo don't be naughty.

Scene: Ah Kam squats down, face to face with Jo Jo.

Kam: Hey! So sweetheart do you want to press the button?

Scene: Jo Jo nods her head, father Ah Kam picks her up and shows her how to press the lift button.

Kam: Daring, it glows. Look! It's a “button”! You want to press it?

Scene: Jo Jo stretches out her arm and presses the lift button.

Kam: Wow good job! Let's wait for the lift.

Scene: Back to the pavilion in the park, the three babies sit in their own stroller.

Alvin: Ah your dad is very smart. He can read your mind and teach you so many things.

Jo: As long as the adults observe what we are doing and what we like before teaching us, that will make everyone happy.

Yau: Alvin, how about your dad?

Alvin: My dad loves me very much but sometimes his speech is either too long or too difficult, so I do not quite understand.

Scene: Father Ah On, mother Ah Shan, baby Alvin and sister are waiting for the school bus at the station, Alvin wants to pull his sister's school bag.

Alvin: Once, my mom and dad brought me along to send my sister to school. I wanted to touch her school bag.

Sister: Dad, Alvin pulled my school bag!

Scene: Ah On bends down, says a lot of things to Alvin.

On: Alvin, why are you doing that? There're lots of books and notebooks inside, be careful.

Alvin: Dad said so many things that I didn't understand

On: Listen! Please don't pull it again!

Scene: Mom Ah Shan picks up Alvin.

Shan: You want to play with her school bag?

Alvin: Mom responded differently. She just told me not to play with my sister's school bag. She knew I wanted a school bag though and gave me a small one.

Scene: Back to the park, the three babies sit in their own stroller.

Jo: Your mom is so clever!

Alvin: Yes, my mom understands my mind very well. She explains things to me in simple words that help me understand easily. Yau Yau, how are uncle and auntie recently?

Yau: Since Auntie Shan came last time, mom and dad have improved a lot. A few days ago, they took me to the fruit store.

Scene: Ah Kin walks inside a fruit store with Yau Yau and Ah Ying. Ah Ying picks up an orange.

Ying: Yau Yau, your favourite oranges!

Scene: Yau Yau picks up a lemon, Ah Kin squats down.

Yau: Ooah!

Kin: This is a lemon, its sour. Yau Yau, do you like it? “Lemon”, lemons are sour. Do you like it? Wonderful Yau Yau!

Scene: Yau Yau passes the lemon to her father, Ah Kin put it back onto the shelf, and picks up a bunch of bananas.

Kin: Now look at this bunch! Wow! Bananas! They smell and taste good! Want to try? "Bananas".

Yau: Dad knew I like fruits, so he showed them to me and taught me a lot of things about lemons and bananas.

Scene: Yau Yau touches a pear.

Kin: This is a pear.

Shopkeeper: Is this your child?

Ying & Kin: Yes.

Shopkeeper: She's cute!

Ying: Thanks!

Scene: Back to the park, three babies sit in their own stroller.

Yau: The shopkeeper said I was cute!

Alvin: See how happy you are when you get praised!

Jo: Yau Yau, your mom and dad have really improved a lot!

Yau: Hopefully they'll get even better!

Scene: Ah Kin and Ah Kam are chatting while walking back to the park.

Kin: My wife and I have learned how to play with Yau Yau anywhere and anytime. And not just at home either, we also interact with her while shopping to give her more learning opportunities.

Kam: You've learnt, haven't you?

Kin: Of course!

Kam: But don't forget to take time for yourself. Don't force yourself to play when you're exhausted. And sometimes kids won't want to play like when they are too tired or hungry. My advice, never force them to. Be relaxed and happy when playing with your kids.

Kin: Yes I agree.

Scene: Back to the park, Ah Kin and Ah Kam give out drinks to others.

Kam: One bottle each. Hope everybody thirsty! Here you go.

Scene: Few weeks later, Ah Kin, Ah Ying, Ah Shan, Yau Yau and Alvin are at Yau Yau‘s home. Yau Yau and Alvin sit on floor mat.

Alvin: Yau Yau, over these few weeks, have your mom and dad made any progress?

Yau: They improved a lot! I am so happy.

Alvin: See, I told you they are pretty smart!

Yau: You were right!

Ying: Ah Shan, Yau Yau doesn't talk yet. Why do other kids start talking sooner?

Shan: Don't worry about it. When my daughter was just around two years old
she only said a few words to me. At first, I thought she might have a problem. So I took her to the Maternal and Child Health Centre. The nurse said she was fine. She was just a slow starter. The nurse taught me how to play with her and how to observe her responses. By the age of two, she was talking a lot more.

Kin: But Ah Ying and I are still worried!

Shan: It's normal for you to be worried. Every child is different. Some progress faster while some are a bit slower. So don't compare your children with other children! Sometimes, even with a lot of effort, they may not show much improvement. So try not to put pressure on yourself and your baby. If you are still worried you can make an appointment at the Maternal and Child Health Centre to seek their advice.

Ying: You're right. I'm going to make an appointment for some advice, thanks.

Alvin: Yau Yau, uncle and auntie care for you so much!

Yau: Yes, though I'm not speaking well, they understand me more. We communicate with each other happily!

Scene: Ah Kin, Ah Ying, Ah Shan, Yau Yau and Alvin are sitting and playing on the floor mat.

Shan: Hey Alvin.

Ying: Yau Yau.

Shan: How's it going Alvin?

Heading: Tips from the Speech Therapist
Scene: Miss Siu, the speech therapist from Child Assessment Service of Department of Health is chatting with five parents in the clinic.

Miss Siu: I welcome you all to this parents' sharing session. I'm Miss Siu, Speech Therapist of the Child Assessment Service of the Department of Health. Today's session is divided into two parts. The first part is about sharing our experiences in communicating with children. In the second part we shall watch some video clips. Well, who would like to speak first?

Dad A: I have, a one and a half year old baby. I know the importance of good communication, that's why I try and play with her after work every day.

Mum B: Exactly how do you play with her?

Dad A: We usually have a pony ride or hide and seek. We have so much fun.

Dad C: Miss Siu, is that parent-child communication?

Sub-heading: Enjoy Quality Time with Child

Miss Siu: Oh you have done a good job. You know how to treasure your time with your child and you've done a very important thing too, that is, both of you enjoy play time very much. That's important. Apart from having fun, we also need to know that play can help in many aspects of your child's development.

Dad A: I never thought of that. Can you tell us more please?

Sub-heading: Learning through Play

Miss Siu: In fact, play is part of children's daily life. In a relaxing atmosphere during play and with the support & guidance from parents, children are more willing to learn to express themselves and get along with others. Your kids will be more receptive to encouragement when they are in this mood.

Dad A: Wow play is so important in learning

Miss Siu: Yes we can help children learn many things through play, things such as language. We can teach children a whole range of vocabulary while we play. For example a variety of nouns and related verbs.

Mum B: Wow, play isn't simply play after all.

Sub-heading: Learning through Play

  • Build a relaxing atmosphere
  • Foster chances to communicate
  • Explore and learn around us
  • Learn to express needs

Sub-heading: Queries on Language Development

Mum D: I am worried, about my son's ability to speak. I always try to teach him but he just refuses to imitate what I'm saying.

Miss Siu: Mm, there are many factors affecting children's language development. We should also pay attention to their other areas of development such as hearing, cognitive development and intention to communicate. Don't forget the environmental factors. Try to think whether we have given them the opportunities to express their needs and encouragement at the appropriate time. Remember that these are some important prerequisites

Sub-heading: Factors Affecting Language Development

  • Hearing development
  • Cognitive development
  • Intention to communicate
  • Chances to communicate

Sub-heading: Observe Your Child

Mum D: I did pay attention to those areas. I don't worry about my son's hearing because he responds to the slightest sound. And when I ask him to get something he always does. He even brings a toy to me to ask me to play with him.

Miss Siu: Good job! You have observed many details particularly about what your child understands. Children must understand before they can express. Around the age of two, children's ability to express themselves varies greatly. Sometimes we just have to be patient.

Dad C: So, what should we do then?

Sub-heading: Ways to Facilitate Language Development

Miss Siu: That's a good question. There are lots of things we can do. Parents can help children to learn language by describing things around them and what children or parents are doing. Even if they may not imitate, parents are encouraged to talk more to their children. This is very important for their development.

Sub-heading: Important Points on Language Development

  • Understanding before speaking
  • The pace can be different
  • Talking about what is happening helps

Mum E: Miss Siu I have tried what you just suggested. Not only that, I have practised with my daughter for some time, still she does not speak.

Miss Siu: Having heard you I suggest you bring your child for a check-up at a Maternal and Child Health Centre or seek your family doctor's advice. In fact, do feel free to seek medical advice whenever you have any questions.

Sub-heading: Seek Medical Advice

Miss Siu: Does anyone want to share any more?

Parents: No.

Miss Siu: Let's watch some demonstration video clips.

Parents: Okay.

Heading: Communication Skills in Practice

Miss Siu: Effective parent-child communication is “two-way” and interactive. The following four skills can encourage children's participation. First is “Face to Face”. Let's see how parents adjust to their children height to get “face to face”.

Sub-heading: Face to Face

Scene: Father Ah Kin kneels down on the floor mat with his son, plays stacking rings and talks to him.

Kin: Woop, Woop!

Miss Siu: This father kneels down on the floor so his son can see his expression clearly.

Kin: You do this one, good!

Sub-heading: Face to Face

Scene: Mom Ah Shan and baby Alvin are standing at school bus station.

Shan: Alvin, you want to play with your sister's school bag?

Scene: Mother Ah Shan picks up Alvin and talks to Alvin face to face.

Miss Siu: This mother uses another approach. She lifts her son up before speaking to him. She can see his facial expression clearly.

Shan: Sister carries her own school bag and this smaller one is for you.

Sub-heading: Face to Face

Scene: Ah Kin holds Yau Yau's hand and walks into a fruit store together with Ah Ying. Ah Ying picks up an orange.

Ying: Yau Yau, your favourite oranges!

Scene: Yau Yau is looking at the bananas. Ah Kin squats down, picks up a bunch of bananas and talks to Yau Yau face to face.

Kin: Oh! They smell good!

Miss Siu: Dad squats down before speaking to his daughter so they can see each other. See how happy they are.

Sub-heading: Let Child Take the Lead

Miss Siu: Second, “Let Child Take the Lead”. Let's see how parents first observe their children then follow their interests and play together.

Scene: Mom Ah Ying and baby Yau Yau sit on floor mat at home and playing with toy rings and balls.

Ying: Baby, shall we play this? Woo! Okay, your turn.

Miss Siu: The mother wants her daughter to play with the toy ring but the girl prefers playing ball. So mum plays ball with her instead!

Ying: Throw, let's throw the ball.

Miss Siu: The mother also teaches her the verb "throw".

Ying: Woo! Rolls away.

Miss Siu: She also said “rolls away!” to describe what just happened.

Sub-heading: Let Child Take the Lead

Scene: Father Ah Kin, mother Ah Ying and baby Yau Yau are in fruit store. Yau Yau is touching the banana.

Kin: They're yummy!

Miss Siu: In this video, the girl is interested in bananas so the father follows her interest and encourages her to smell them.

Kin: Wow bananas! They smell and taste good. You want to try? Um!

Miss Siu: He took this chance to introduce words related to bananas too.

Sub-heading: Talk about What is Happening

Miss Siu: The third skill is to “Talk about What is Happening”. While playing, the parents describe what they are doing and use actions and words at the same time. Let's see how they do it!

Scene: Father Ah Kin sits on floor mat with his son playing stacking rings and is giving a toy duck to him.

Kin: Hold the ducky. Ducky, put it there. Here is a hole you can put it through. Try it.

Miss Siu: They were playing stacking rings. When Dad held the ducky up, he said “ducky”. When he taught his son to place it, he talked while he demonstrated: "Here's ducky, put it there! Here's a hole, try it" to help the child understand what he meant.

Sub-heading: Talk about What is Happening

Scene: Father Ah Kam and baby Jo Jo are waiting for the lift. Jo Jo tries to press the lift button. Ah Kam squats down and talks to Jo Jo face to face.

Kam: Hey! So sweetheart do you want to press the button?

Scene: Jo Jo nods her head, father Ah Kam picks her up and shows her how to press the button.

Kam: Darling, it glows. Look! It's a “button”! You want to press it?

Scene: Jo Jo stretches out her arm and presses the lift button.

Miss Siu: When dad knew his daughter wanted to press the lift button, he pressed the button and said something related to it: It glows, it's a “button”.

Sub-heading: Talk about What is Happening

Scene: Father Ah Kin, mother Ah Ying and baby Yau Yau are in the fruit store. Yau Yau picks up a lemon. Ah Kin squats down.

Yau: Ooah!

Kin: This is a lemon. It's sour. Yau Yau, do you like it? “Lemon”, lemons are sour. Do you like it? Um!

Miss Siu: Dad noticed his daughter was interested in the lemon. So he took the chance to teach her the name of the fruit and the characteristics of a lemon.

Sub-heading: Respond More and Praise More

Miss Siu:  Fourth is “Respond More and Praise More”. Let's see how the parents use simple words to respond to and praise their children so as to increase their interest to participate.

Scene: Mother Ah Shan and a baby are sitting on floor mat and playing with some toy foods and cooker.

Shan: Put this in okay? Yes! Yes! Well done!

Miss Siu: The mother was playing with the cooking set with her child, she guided him to put the food into the cooker. When the child followed her act, she praised his attempt.

Sub-heading: Respond More and Praise More

Scene: Father Ah Kin and baby Alvin sit on the floor mat and playing with the stacking rings.

Kin: Put it there! That's it! Wonderful!

Miss Siu: When the father and child play stacking rings, he often praises his child for his effort.

Kin: Come on, put it there. Woop!

Alvin: Ah!

Kin: You don't like it? This one?

Miss Siu: Later, the child becomes impatient and screams. The father thought he'd lost interest in stacking rings so he voiced his thought as a response to the child
"You don't like it?". Then he suggested another way to play with the stacking rings
“This one?”.

Sub-heading: Integrating Communication Skills in Play

Miss Siu: We have just watched how to use the four parent-child communication skills. Next, let's see how I combine these skills together when playing with children.

Scene: Miss Siu, a child and a mother sit on a floor mat and play with toy food and knife.

Sub-heading: Face to Face

Miss Siu: Good! What else do I have to cut? You see, what is it? What is it? It's bread.

Child: Bread.

Miss Siu: Bread, shall we cut the bread? Yes?

Child: Yes!

Sub-heading: Talk about What is Happening

Scene: Miss Siu is encouraging the child to cut the toy bread using the toy knife.

Miss Siu: Okay! Let's cut. Cut. Take the knife. Hold it, hold the knife like this. Hold the bread. One. Two. Three. Cut. Oh no! It's so difficult! Cut, cut. And it's done! Cut it again! Ready? One two three cut. Oh Grrrr it's so hard! Oh! You did it!

Sub-heading: Let Child Take the Lead

Miss Siu: One more? Yes, let's do it once more. Let me hold it! Cut. Cut. Oh! Not yet. Try again. Let me help you this time. Done! You did it! Well done you!

Scene: Miss Siu and another child sit on floor mat and play with a toy teapot with its cover on.

Miss Siu: There's sound. Open it!

Sub-heading: Respond More

Scene: The child gives the toy teapot to Miss Siu. Miss Siu takes off the cover and let child see the toy strawberry inside the teapot.

Miss Siu: You want me to open it? OK.

Child: Auntie.

Miss Siu: Open it. Let me open it. It's opened!

Sub-heading: Talk about What is Happening

Miss Siu: A strawberry! Quick! Cover it. It's gone! It's gone! Put it in. Put it in. Oh!

Sub-heading: Praise More

Scene: Miss Siu and the child are clapping hands to show praise.

Miss Siu: Well done! Yes, well done!

Sub-heading: Common Questions While Communicating with Child – How to talk about what is happening?

Narrator: Talking about what is happening will benefit children's development. Parents may ask how they can do it

Sub-heading: Talk about What is Happening

Scene: Miss Siu, a child and a mother sit on floor mat and play with toy food and knife.

Miss Siu: Wow! A fish. You see?

Narrator: We can use both actions and words to describe what the child is doing.

Scene: The child takes the fish and break it into 2 halves.

Miss Siu: Fish, goo goo goo! Break it! Wow, it's done!

Sub-heading: Describe Child's Action

Narrator: And your own action.

Sub-heading: Describe Your Own Action

Scene: Miss Siu take out a toy knife and encourage the child to cut the fish and then stick the pieces together.

Miss Siu: Let's get a knife to cut it. See whether auntie has a knife. Take the knife and cut. We'll stick it together. Then let me place a chopping board here.
Get ready? One Two Three.

Narrator: Remember, you have to pause and allow her to respond.

Sub-heading: Pause When Appropriate

Miss Siu: It's pulled apart! Hold it. Want to stick it? Stick again? Together? OK then, here.

Narrator: So, the child has a chance to take a turn and respond.

Miss Siu: One Two Three Cut

Sub-heading: Common Questions While Communicating with Child – What to do if the child loses interest after playing for a while?

Narrator: Parents may also ask what if the child loses interest after playing for a while. First, we should check whether the toy or game chosen suits the child's ability. Children may lose interest in very difficult or overly simple games. Then we can try the following ways to attract their interest. For example, by making some sound.

Sub-heading: Making Sound to Arouse Interest

Scene: Miss Siu and a child sit on the floor mat and play with a toy teapot.  She makes sound by patting and shaking the toy teapot to attract the child.

Miss Siu: Pull it open. Here you go. Here. Look here. Open it. Wow! That's good!

Sub-heading: Using Action to Arouse Interest

Scene: Miss Siu, another child and a mother sit on floor mat, play with a toy fish and a toy teapot. Miss Siu holds out the fish and pretends that it is swimming.

Miss Siu: Wow! It's a fish, you see?

Narrator: An action

Miss Siu: Fish, Goo goo goo goo goo goo

Scene: Child takes the fish and breaks it

Miss Siu: Oh no! It's broken.

Scene: Miss Siu and the other child playing with the toy teapot, knife and foods.

Miss Siu: Take the knife, take it and cut it. Here. Cut it. Wow!

Narrator: Play in different ways. Like with a toy teapot, apart from making tea with it, we can also use it as a box for putting things in and taking things out to arouse children's interest.

Sub-heading: Different Ways to Play to Arouse Interest

Miss Siu: Oh! See? What is it?

Narrator: If you notice that the child has lost interest or becomes irritated, don't push them.

Miss Siu: Alright! Let's stop here then.

Sub-heading: Realistic Expectation

Narrator: Helping children to grow up is full of joy and challenges. Each child has different abilities and developmental pace. Some may be more advanced in certain areas but slightly behind in others. Parents need to understand and accept the individual differences and variations in progress. Sometimes, even though you have adopted effective methods, their performance may not progress as you expected. If you still have doubts, you can seek advice from Maternal and Child Health Centre or other medical professionals. In conclusion, as long as you follow the children's learning pace and guide them patiently they will grow up happily in a relaxing atmosphere.

Sub-heading: The Department of Health owns the copyright of this digital video. This digital video is produced solely for non-commercial use. It should not be rented, sold or otherwise used for profit-making purposes. Produced in 2019 (English version)