Acknowledgements - gapitc

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Get Ready to Go
Teach your child to follow simple one or two step directions by repeating them
as part of familiar routines.
When you are planning to leave the house with your toddler say,“Go get your
shoes and bring them to me.”
When your child brings his shoes, thank him and put them on his feet.
Say,“You got your shoes. Now we can go!”
If your toddler is riding in a car, always buckle him into the child safety seat.
Say to your child,“Hands up!” Then put the safety straps in place.
Say,“Now, you are safe. Let’s go!”
Your toddler is like a sponge soaking up the meaning of words as you talk with
her. When you feed, dress, bathe or play with your toddler, look her in the eyes
and talk in a warm and caring voice. If she communicates through signs, sign the
names of objects and your actions often.
Use short and direct speech to name objects and actions throughout the day.
“Where is the kitty?” “Let’s put our toes in the cool grass.” “The big washing
machine goes round and round.”
Keep directions or requests simple and direct. Say for example, “Let’s go to the
sink and wash your hands,” or “Bring your blanket to the sofa and climb up” or
“Open wide for yummy beans.”
Use gestures to add meaning. For example, offer your hand when you say,“Come
here. Let’s walk to the big slide together.”
As you play simple games or read simple picture books to your toddler,encourage
him to point to things you name even if he cannot say the names himself. Hearing
the words and seeing the pictures of the real object make important connections
in your child’s brain.
Frequent ear infections can interfere with your child’s ability to hear clearly and
to tell the difference among sounds. If you have any concerns about your child’s
hearing or responses to spoken words, talk with your child’s doctor or teacher.