Catch the serve
Respond to a young child signal with a language-rich serve-and-return exchange.
The move: respond to the signal before you redirect the child. Serve and return works because young children build language, attention, and trust inside responsive relationships. The child "serve" may be a word, a sound, a gesture, a look, or a movement toward an object. The adult "return" should show that the signal was seen and should add something the child can use. Notice the focus Look where the child is looking. If the adult changes the topic too quickly, the child may comply but the learning opportunity disappears. Name and extend Name the object, feeling, action, or problem. Then…
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