| Early play sets the stage for language learning and social development. Here are some powerful hacks to start building language skills through play: 🧸Take the batteries out of toys to help build language and functional play. The toy shouldn’t be doing all the work. 🧸 Avoid distraction during reciprocal play by limiting the number of toys you have out (only have the toy you are using visible) 🧸 Keep toys fresh by rotating the surplus (switch out old toys, with new ones [that are old] every 1-2 weeks 🧸 Place your child’s preferred toys in sight but out of reach to teach requesting (mands) 🧸 Position child in a way that allows you to be eye level with them, face to face 🧸 Give them a job to do during play to keep them engaged (you fill the bucket, while I hold it) |
RED FLAGS TO LOOK FOR DURING PLAY:
🚫 reluctance with being near other kids
🚫doesn’t pay attention to faces
🚫limited play or doesn’t play with toys the way they are intended
🚫extreme focus on parts of a toy/object (wheels of car, flashing lights/buttons)
🚫have to work really hard to get their attention during interactions
🚫consistently more interested in a toy/object than people
🚫doesn’t bring objects to caregivers/others to play
🚫does not imitate actions of others (bang hammer on object after you bang it)
🚫consistently quiet or very few words during play or doesn’t engage in pretend play
🚫repetitive play (lining toys, repeated pressing of buttons, repeatedly spinning wheels of cars/objects with wheels)
Leave a Reply