ONE – Get their attention

This sounds obvious, but we often forget that when a child is completely engrossed in something, especially play, they may not hear you from the sound of your voice alone.

Wherever possible, ensure you have their full attention. Use their name and get down to their eye level to signal that you’re about to speak. This gives them a chance to recognise that you need to communicate.

TWO – Be specific

As adults, we know what we mean when we talk. But for young children, many situations are relatively or even completely new. They need to understand what is expected of them in order to follow an instruction.

Consider exactly what it is you need your child to do with their body, voice or actions and why. For example, instead of saying “Be careful!” try “Go slowly,” “Hold my hand please.” or “Look at your feet on the stairs so you don’t fall.”

THREE – Consider your words

Very young children are building their vocabulary day by day, and sometimes they don’t respond in the way we expect, because they simply don’t know the words we are using.

Try using familiar, age-appropriate language, and break each instruction down into it’s smallest parts. Get the child to repeat it back to you to check for understanding.

FOUR – Provide visual cues

It’s often helpful, especially for children with delayed speech or additional needs, to use visual aids or gestures to support your verbal instructions.

For example, point to objects or use hand signals to indicate actions. Visual cues help to reinforce verbal messages and make it easier for children to comprehend and respond appropriately.

FIVE – Lead by example

Children learn by observing adults around them, so consider what they see when they or somebody else is talking to you. Do you keep one eye on your phone, the TV or another activity? Or do you maintain eye contact, nod your head and show genuine interest in what they have to say?

When children see you actively listening, that gives them a solid example for listening themselves.

Want to learn more about helping your child develop important skills and build your connection with them? It’s all included in the Foundations Parent Package – check out the Parent page for more information, or schedule a call to see how else I can help.