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Walking and Talking
Toddler Language and Development Questions Answered by the Experts
By iParenting Staff
The next time your child comes up to you and hands you an empty cup, his coat or a toy, try to resist the urge to take it, fill it, hang it up or put it away, Hudon says. "Instead, look at the object, look at your child and say, 'Do you need something?'" she says.
Stuffed animals, trains, puzzles – they all have "talk-ability," Hudon says. "A lion can roar and run. They have soft fur. Trains can go fast and slow. They can go through a tunnel and under a bridge. You put puzzle pieces in and take them out. Puzzles come in all types of categories such as animals, vehicles, fruits and vegetables. In just a short time, you can encourage various language skills including following directions, basic concepts, categorization and vocabulary development. That's a lot of language from one small toy box!"
And don't forget books. "You can never have enough books," Hudon says. "Reading is a great time to be together and enrich language skills and literacy skills. Research suggests that exposing infants and toddlers to rhyming and sound play with words is critical for reading and writing success. Believe it or not, when your toddler asks you to read tht same Dr. Seuss book again and again, you may actually be helping her be a better reader."