Cuddle me, cradle me, hold me close. Let me know that I am loved. Hugs help me learn to trust and handle stress, now and when I'm grown.
| AGE |
PLAY |
READ |
TALK |
LISTEN |
RESPECT |
| Baby: Birth-12 mos. |
Listen for sounds in the world around you. Point to objects and imitate their sounds.
Look into your baby's eyes while making silly faces. |
Read to your baby. It's never too early to start.
Point out familiar objects when reading. |
Talk to your baby. Use different tones of voice: high, low, soothing and laughing.
Hold your baby in front of a mirror. Point out your noses, mouths, eyes, etc. while naming them. |
Attend to your baby's needs. Soothe your baby. Listen for your baby's sounds and repeat them to your baby. |
Introduce your baby to others as you would any person.
Tell your baby what is about to happen, like "pick up," "take a bath," "change diaper," "eat
lunch" or "put in car seat"). |
| Toddler: 1-3 Years |
Imitation and repetition help your child learn. Give toddlers real life things to play with - pots, spoons, plastic plates. Play Pat-A-Cake and This Little Piggy.
Dumping and filling is a favorite. Let your child fill pots and buckets with safe* things: blocks, spoons, balls, etc. Dump them out and do it again. |
Read to your toddler every day! Be ready to read the same story again and again.
Fill a big basket with 5-10 sturdy picture books that your toddler can go to at any time. |
Ask questions that can't be answered with yes or no. Try this while putting your child in a car seat. Ask, "Why do we buckle up?" ("To be safe, because we love you...")
Say what you see throughout the day - while driving, walking or shopping. Let your child repeat your words. |
Be patient. Your toddler is just learning to talk. Listen for basic words and do your best to understand.
Build on your toddler's words. When your child points to a ball and says "Ba" respond with, "Yes, that's the red ball. Want to play?" |
Offer toddlers simple choices like, "Do you want milk or juice? "Apples or oranges?" "Do you want to sit next to sister or uncle?"
Let toddlers do things for themselves within a safe range, like choosing clothes, dressing and washing face and hands. |
| Preschooler: 3-5 years |
Give your child dress-up clothes, hats and shoes for pretend play and using his or her imagination.
Sing songs and make silly motions to the songs. |
Read daily with your child. Take your child to the library or a bookstore.
Let your child tell you about the story. Ask questions such as "What do you think will happen next? |
Play word games that use new words and teach ideas such as opposites (hot/cold) or rhyming (hat/cat).
Tell stories with your child. Enjoy your child as a person. |
Listen from your child's eye level to what he or she is saying.
Help your child use words to talk about feelings, instead of pointing, crying or hitting. |
Offer honest praise for efforts and new skills, helping your child to think for him/herself.
Let your child take on responsibilities like picking up toys, sorting laundry or setting the table. |
| *Place object into toilet paper roll. If it falls through, it is a choking hazard to children younger than 3 years old. |
