- Be attentive and respond to children’s talk in an appropriate and positive way.
- Use talk to describe what children are doing by providing a running commentary, eg Oh, I can see what you are doing. You have to put the milk in the cup first.
- Provide opportunities for children to talk with other children and adults about what they see, hear, think and feel.
- Don’t rush when you talk – speak at a pace that the child can process and understand.
- Provide words by labelling objects, actions and abstract things like feelings.
- Stay with the child while they play, play alongside the child and show attentive companionship as you share conversations.
