7/6/2021
Finally, it’s Tuesday again!! Today was all about CARS!! 🚗🚙🚕🚘🚔
We had so much fun talking about different vehicles that take us places, painting with cars, having noodle car races, and of course ending with some parachute time.
We had many friends today who were very excited to talk about cars - one friend could even name several different car brands!! 😊
I cannot wait for our FINAL group next week!! There are a couple of spaces open for next week both in the Talky Toddlers and Babbling Babes groups - reach out if interested in joining in some fun 🤗
Today's concept of the day:
Contingent Responses
Responding immediately to all attempts of communication, including words and gestures. To do this, follow your child’s lead by responding to your child’s comments, words, gestures, etc. in order to keep the conversation going.
How Using Contingent Responses Supports Language:
1. Allows children to learn the importance of communication
2. Gives parents the opportunity to model sophisticated language skills
3. Helps create conversation, not a one-way street
*Teaches back-and-forth conversational skills
*Teaches turn-taking skills
4. Keeps the focus on the child’s interests - creates conversation that is more meaningful to the child
5. Allows children to know that what they are communicating is important!
Examples of Contingent Responses:
Nonverbal Communication Example:
Child: holds up an empty cup
Parent: "Look! Your milk is all gone!"
Child: points to refrigerator while holding up cup
Parent: "It's empty. I want more please!"
*Notice, the child and parent are having a back-and-forth conversational exchange; the parent is interpreting the child's needs through nonverbal communication.
Verbal Communication Example:
Child: "Uh oh, ball!" - child pointing to ball stuck under couch
Parent: "Oh no, look! The ball is stuck! The ball is under the couch!"
Child: (reaching and grunting trying to get ball) - "Mama, help!"
Parent: "You can't reach the ball. I will help you! Reach! Reach!"
*Notice, the child does not use many words, but is communicating with few word utterances, body language, and gestures. Parent is introducing new sophisticated vocabulary (i.e. reach) during the conversation.
