Avoid asking closed questions e.g. “What colour is this? How
many sides has a square?
Comment about what you and your child are doing and follow
your child’s lead. For example, if your child is using a teapot and
cups to make tea, join in asking if you can have more milk etc.
Use your spoon to pretend to stir your tea and show how much
you are enjoying your pretend drink.
“Thank you, this is a lovely cup of tea. Please can I have some
more milk? Where is the sugar? Ah, two teaspoons of sugar,
one, two. I’m stirring round and round. ”
As soon as you child says something – repeat and extend the
language. For example:
Child hands pretend biscuit and says, “Biscuit.”
Parent, “A biscuit. Thank you, this will be lovely with my cup of
tea. Is there a plate for my biscuit?”
You could make some real biscuits later helping your child to
weigh the ingredients, mix them and cut out the shapes.