Help your child learn language by making small changes to your interactions with your child and to your home environment:

• Face your child and look at him as he talks to you

• Follow your child’s lead, use activities that he is interested as opportunities for him to learn language

• Give your child time to respond

• Use gestures along with words to help your child understand what you are saying to him

• Don’t try to force your child to speak. Model language for your child instead.

• Describe for your child what he is doing, feeling and hearing. Also describe to your child what you are doing as you do it. Remember to pause in between to give your child a chance to respond

• Read books aloud. Choose books appropriate for your child’s age. If your child loses interest in the text, just talk about the pictures

• Add 1-2 words to what your child says. (For example, if your child says, “water”, you can say, “drink water”)

• Listen to your child. Answer your child every time they communicate. This rewards them for communicating (verbally or non-verbally)

• Limit your child’s screen time (e.g. phone, tablet, or TV) so that he can spend more quality time with you