Play and Talk with me
(Content revised 06/2020)(Reprinted 02/2022)
Every child needs a language-rich environment for learning to speak. You can make use of daily activities and play to create such an environment. Have fun with your child, talk with him/her and give him/her more chances to talk.
EVERY DAY you can:
- Talk with your child in daily routines
e.g. feeding, bathing, going to the playground - Point and name the pictures when reading picture books together
- Find some time to play with your child by:
- Singing nursery rhymes
e.g. Row a boat, Twinkle twinkle little star, Wheels on the bus… - Playing finger games, pat-a cake
- Playing with toys like kitchen set, dolls, cars, blocks, etc.
- Singing nursery rhymes
Please refer to ‘Happy Parenting (3) Infant & Toddler'
- Child Development 5 – Eight to Twelve Months
- Child Development 6 – One to Two Years
- Parenting series 7 – Connecting with Your Baby – For Parents with Babies Under One
- Parenting series 9 – Learning to Talk for 1-2 Years Old
- Does your 0 to 5-year-old child need electronic screen products?
- Video on ‘Communication Skills in Practice'- Integrating communication skills in play
Remember to use the following skills first when engaging with your child:
- Attract child's attention, like calling his name or putting toy next to your face
- Face to face and let child look into your eyes
- Observe and follow child's interest, then respond
Talk with lively expressions
Then apply the communicative skills below flexibly:
- Name objects, describe the objects or actions, sing with simple body movements during daily routines and play
- Imitate child's sounds
- Add in new elements to attract his interest
- Praise child's responses
- Take a break when child loses interest
You can note down the age (in months) when your child is achieving different verbal abilities listed below. You would then understand more how he/she is progressing in his/her language development.
| Understanding: | Age (in months) when he/she can do it most of the time |
|---|---|
| Often responds to calling of his / her name | |
| Responds to familiar words with cues (e.g. hold out his arms when you open your arms & say “have a cuddle”, sit down when you tap the chair & say “sit down”) |
|
| Recognizes names of familiar people & objects (e.g. grandma, auntie, car, cup, ball) when asked |
|
| Follows simple commands without cues (e.g. give me the ball) |
|
| Points to a few body parts when asked (e.g. eyes, head, ear, nose) |
|
| Points correctly to pictures of common objects (e.g. flower, apple, dog, car, ball, comb, cup, etc.) when asked |
| Expression: | Age (in months) when he/she can do it most of the time |
|---|---|
| Use gestures to express needs (e.g. pointing his hand to something he wants, shakes head to indicate “No”) |
|
| Making chains of speech-like sounds | |
| Points with finger to indicate needs | |
| Speaks single words (e.g. mummy, cookie) | |
| Combining words (e.g. want-cookie, mummy-eat) |