Your little one is more likely to communicate with you about something that interests them. When you follow their lead, the words you use will match the things they are thinking about, helping them to learn the links between words and what they mean.
Watch this mum follow her daughter's lead while playing a ball game.
How following your child's lead helps them learn
It helps them to:
- Learn the words for things that interest them
- Learn to link the words they hear to their meanings
Copying your child's actions and sounds is a great way to start a conversation with them. Follow what they do and describe what you're both doing e.g. 'Aubrey's spinning / Mummy's spinning'. This helps link the words for their actions to what they're doing.
