Talk More Tips: Teaching Texts
- October 10, 2016
- / Shannon Nickinson
- / early-learning,TMW-Tips
A California program uses text messages to prompt parents with tips, strategies to talk more with their young children.
TMW Tips: Talk numbers
- October 7, 2016
- / Shannon Nickinson
- / early-learning,TMW-Tips
Talking about shapes, numbers and patterns is important. It helps build number sense, basic math and comparison concepts.
TMW Tip: The most important years of learning
- October 6, 2016
- / Shannon Nickinson
- / early-learning,TMW-Tips
The science is indisputable. The essential years for developing the human brain are from birth through 3. Helping parents with their role in that is key.
TMW Tip: Share books while you read together
- October 5, 2016
- / Shannon Nickinson
- / early-learning,TMW-Tips
Parents had to learn that it was OK for their children to fidget while reading. What’s important is keeping the child engaged — because engaged kids learn better.
TMW Tip: Ask questions
- October 4, 2016
- / Shannon Nickinson
- / early-learning,TMW-Tips
Yes-no questions are only good for one-word answers. How and why questions force your child to start building problem-solving skills.
TMW Tip: Talk all the time
- October 3, 2016
- / Shannon Nickinson
- / early-learning,TMW-Tips
When your baby makes a sound, it’s her way of trying to talk to you. Answer back, even if you feel silly doing it. Every word you say is building her brain.
TMW Tip: Praise the effort
- September 30, 2016
- / Shannon Nickinson
- / early-learning,TMW-Tips
Research shows that children who are praised for their effort are less likely to give up when faced with a challenge.
TMW Tip: Build on 'baby talk'
- September 29, 2016
- / Shannon Nickinson
- / early-learning,TMW-Tips
Make the word fragments your baby starts to say into full sentences to help her learn more words.
TMW Tip: Use word chains to boost brain power
- September 28, 2016
- / Shannon Nickinson
- / early-learning,TMW-Tips
Talk to your baby about what you're doing all the time. Adding more words to describe what you're doing is like adding links in a chain, one that will help your child's brain build strong connections later on.
TMW Tip: Talk about what you do
- September 27, 2016
- / Shannon Nickinson
- / early-learning,TMW-Tips
Talk about what you are doing when your baby is there. When you change a diaper, when you wash the dishes, when you do anything, talk about it to your child.