Talking to your toddler

• Talk to your child face-to-face - position yourself at your child’s level, so your child can see your face clearly. This will help your child see your facial expressions and how your mouth makes the sounds.
  
  
• Picture books - lift flaps with surprise. Name objects they are focused on and describe what is happening using simple language. Use describing words, action words and object words. For example: 'It’s a big, brown dog' or 'He’s wagging his tail!’ or 'The dog’s sleeping!'. Try to use an enthusiastic and animated tone, even if you have read the same book many times! Repetition really helps your child learn language. Visit a Peterborough library to see what books they have available.
  
  
• The Words for Life website has a list of book suggestions for toddlers. They also have tips on how to engage your child in reading when they're a bit older.

• Enjoy adding puppets or soft toys to your play. Children love listening to you putting on voices and giving it a go themselves.

• Play with water and sand. You could try filling a washing up bowl with water or sand and use washed up yoghurt pots, old spoons and sieves to explore scooping, pouring, counting, and comparing amounts.
  
  
• Treasure hunt - hide some objects around the room and use spoken clues to help your child find them.
  
  
• Hide everyday items in a pillowcase, box or bag, pulling one out at a time, with excitement, building suspense by asking or singing to your toddler about what they think is going to appear. This is a great way to use descriptive language, such as ‘It’s your blue ball! It’s very squishy.’

• When outdoors try describing what you are experiencing together, such as; 'Look at those big fluffy clouds', ‘the birds are singing, listen’. Local, safe and open green places give children the space they need to keep moving whilst you talk about what they are doing ‘Wow, you are running so quickly’ and ‘let’s see who gets to the tree first’.
  
  
• Help your child understand opposites as they experience them in everyday situations. For example, 'the ice cream is cold' and 'the water from the tap is hot'. Your child needs to experience these in lots of different situations before they start using these words.

• Consider reducing the number of toys you have out and turning the TV or other electronic devices off while you play. You will find that your child can concentrate better on interacting with you when background noises and distractions are reduced.
  
  
• Limit your own screen time - your toddler needs as much attention as you can give them during these vital years. Glancing at your phone could mean you miss your toddler trying to communicate with you. When you show interest, they are more likely to engage with you in return.
  
  
• Attend a Tiny Tots session at Peterborough Museum - Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery runs monthly 'Tiny Tots' sessions, perfect for under 5s from confident walkers to pre-schoolers. Their sessions include lots of sensory and messy play activities, as well as songs, games and story time.

Watch your child playing and wait to see what happens. You may notice that your child communicates with you using subtle ways, such as:

• Tapping the ground (to tell you to sit next to them)
• Handing you a book (to tell you to read with them)
• Holding a phone to your ear (to tell you to pretend to call them)

Wait for them to invite you into their play, so you can follow their lead. Children are more focused and find joy in their play when it is self-chosen, and they do not feel under pressure to get something right.