When children participate in interactions that go back-and-forth many times, they have more opportunities to hear and practice language. Children learn the most from talking about their ideas, so let the child take the first turn to start an interesting conversation. Then, follow the child’s lead to keep the interaction going! Here are some fun ways to build back-and-forth conversations.

The best way to build a child’s language is to have conversations that go back and forth a number of times whenever you’re together. Children who have more conversations with adults develop better language skills and are more successful at school. Here are some fun ideas for you to try.

Talking about the first sounds in words builds a child’s sound awareness. This helps lay the foundation for later reading and writing! Use these fun tips to draw children’s attention to the sounds in words.

You can prepare children for learning to read and write by pointing out print that they can see all around them. By pointing out print in the environment, you help them learn that print communicates just like spoken words do. Try these fun tips to highlight print throughout the day.

Talking about how others think and feel helps children understand and appreciate different viewpoints, develop empathy, and relate to others. You can encourage children to put themselves into other people’s minds by using these fun tips.

Young children generally find it easy to talk about the here and now. However, having conversations about the future helps children learn to use more abstract and sophisticated language. One way to talk about the future is to make a prediction. Here are some fun tips for talking about what could happen next.

Have conversations with children that include thought-provoking questions and explanations. Children’s ability to use language for thinking and learning is fundamental to the development of literacy and success at school. Here are some fun things to try.