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 interested in and thinking about, helping them to learn the links between words and what they mean.
Try doing this by taking them on a wander around the house and seeing what grabs their attention.
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
Once you've set up your washing up game, talk your child through everything that they're doing, letting them take the lead. Bring in new action words such as 'washing', 'scrubbing', and 'cleaning'.
Encourage your child to repeat the actions and praise their efforts.
