As a parent of a young child who is having difficulty understanding and using words, you want to know what you can do to help. Highlight Your Language is a strategy you can use to help your child understand and use words by making the important words stand out! Think of this like using a highlighter pen, which makes the important words on a page stand out. When you highlight your language it’s not just what you say that matters, but how you say it!

In a busy early childhood setting, it can be challenging to engage every childin interactions, which is key to supporting their language development.But when we engage children in small groups, something magicalhappens.

You’ve probably heard that talking to your child is critical for their language development. But did you know that what you talk about when you respond to your child has an important influence on their later mental health?

Interpreting your child’s messages is key to keeping interactions going between you and your child. When you interpret, your child can feel heard, understood, and motivated to communicate even more. 

To make conversations last longer, it’s a good idea to swap out some of your questions for comments. Making comments that are based on your child’s interest is one of the best ways to encourage them to communicate. Here’s how to do it! 

The sensations your child craves or avoids are called “sensory preferences”. When you recognize and work with your child’s sensory preferences, you can create situations that make it easier (and more fun!) for them to interact with you. A great way you can do this is with something called “people games”.

One of the key skills that lay the foundation for your child's literacy success is print knowledge. Here are five tips for helping your child learn about print throughout the day. 

You know that talking to your child is critical for their language development. But did you know that not talking sometimes is just as important? Learn more about the power of pausing and waiting during interactions with your child and what to look out for while you wait.

Imitating your child can be one of the most powerful ways to get an interaction going with your child. Here are some tips for using the Imitate strategy from the Hanen More Than Words® Program that can help you spark an interaction between you and your child.