I am reading, Reading for Our Lives by Maya Payne Smart, and over the next several newsletters, I will share some of her ideas from her writing.
In Chapter 5, Ms. Smart discusses the importance of oral language. "Oral-language experience is critical for reading develop-ment, but making nourishing conversation with babies and young children comes more naturally to some parents than others. So I created the TALK Method to help even the quietest parents find something to say while reading or spending time with kids. The next time you're with your child, challenge yourself to:
TAKE TURNS. Even preverbal infants can be dynamic conversational partners, if you let them. Pause to listen for their coos and babbles and to observe their eye movements or facial expressions. When you notice their gaze and utterances, conversation gets much easier because you're responding to their prompts versus initiating talk all on your own. Acknowledge the interests and attention the child shows: Yes, I hear you. I think the dog is pretty silly, too. Your reply fuels early brain development.
ASK QUESTIONS. Want to give babies a language boost, even before they start talking? Try asking questions about a scene unfolding in real life or within the pages of a book you're reading, like What's that? Do you see the bird? or just Ready to turn the page? A study found that the number of questions moms asked during shared book reading with 10-month-old infants predicted language skills 8 months later.
LABEL AND POINT. There's plenty to be said for describing your surroundings or what's on a book page, as well. Pointing to everyday objects or book illustrations and talking about their colors and shapes, or discussing related action, is conversation, too. And the finger-to-page or finger-to-object connection helps bring the baby's attention in line with yours. For example, you could say, There's the umbrella. Right there. (Pointing.)
KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING. Look for opportunities to extend, expand, and elaborate on whatever you're talking about. For example, while reading you could bring book content into the realm of everyday life and experience by linking characters and plot to things the child has experienced. Saying something like the following builds on the book without veering too far off topic: Look! It's raining in the picture. We saw rain outside our window, too.
Yes, you can have a conversation with an infant who's not yet talking, and you can keep using these same prompts as they age. Taking turns, asking questions, highlighting interesting things, and discussing books never get old. Sooner than you think, your baby will turn into a toddler who points and labels on their own, and then a preschooler who discusses and shares their reactions with you, having learned from your fine example. Trust me, all of this gets easier with time, practice, and attention. One day, it'll feel second nature."
-Adapted from, Reading for Our Lives by Maya Payne Smart
