How to Talk to Your Child (0-6 Years)

How to Talk to Your Child (0-6 Years) to Boost Learning & Bonding Guide for Parents

Talking to your child is more than just words—it’s the foundation for their language, social, and emotional development. Based on the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), effective communication helps children feel safe, confident, and eager to learn.

But how should you talk to your baby, toddler, or preschooler? 🤔
In this guide, we’ll break it down by age with EYLF-based tips to help you nurture their growth through meaningful conversations.

0-12 Months: Talking to Your Baby

Even before they can talk, babies absorb language by listening to your voice and watching your facial expressions.

How to Talk to Your Baby:

✔️ Use a warm, soothing voice – Babies respond to tone before words.
✔️ Narrate daily activities – "Now we’re putting on your socks! One sock, two socks!"
✔️ Respond to coos and babbling – This teaches them that communication is a two-way process.
✔️ Sing and read simple stories – Repetition builds language skills!

Example Conversations:
During Bath Time:
"Let’s wash your little toes! Splash, splash! Oh, the water feels warm!"

At Feeding Time:
"Here’s your bottle. Yum! You love your milk, don’t you?"

Best Products for Language Development:
Black-and-White Contrast Books – Helps newborns focus and engage.
Soft Musical Toys – Encourage sound recognition and listening skills.

👉 Recommended: "Look, Look!" by Peter Linenthal (High-contrast baby book).

Example: When changing a diaper, say:
"Let’s put on a fresh diaper! Now you feel clean and happy!"

Tip: Babies love eye contact and facial expressions, so smile and exaggerate sounds to engage them!

👣 1-2 Years: Talking to Your Toddler

At this stage, toddlers understand more than they can say. They start pointing, using gestures, and saying single words or short phrases.

How to Talk to Your Toddler:

✔️ Use simple, clear sentences – "Time for lunch!" instead of "Would you like to eat something now?"
✔️ Name objects and actions – "Look, a big red ball!"
✔️ Expand their words – If they say "dog," you say, "Yes, a big brown dog!"
✔️ Encourage choices – "Do you want an apple or a banana?"
✔️ Read books with repetition and rhymes – Helps with memory and speech.

Example Conversations:
🧒 When Playing:
"Wow! You built a tall tower with blocks. Crash! It fell down! Let’s build again."

🧒 During a Walk:
"Look! A big yellow bus is coming! Beep beep! Where do you think it's going?"

🧒 Example: When your toddler says "milk," respond:
"Yes! You want milk. Here’s your milk in the blue cup!"

Best Products for Language Development:

📚 First Words Books – Help toddlers expand their vocabulary.
🧩 Touch-and-Feel Flashcards – Engage the senses while learning new words.

💡 Tip: Avoid correcting mistakes. Instead of "No, it's not 'good,' it’s 'went'," say, "Yes, you went to the park!"

🎨 2-3 Years: Talking to Your Exploring Toddler

Toddlers start forming short sentences and asking lots of "why" questions. This is the perfect age to boost their vocabulary!

How to Talk to Your 2-3-Year-Old:

✔️ Encourage conversations – Ask open-ended questions: "What did you see at the park?"
✔️ Describe emotions – "I see you're feeling sad. Do you need a hug?"
✔️ Practice turn-taking – Helps with social skills.
✔️ Use pretend play – Talk to dolls, teddies, and imaginary friends.
✔️ Repeat and expand – If they say "big truck," you say, "Yes! A big blue truck is driving fast!"

Example Conversations:
👦 When Getting Dressed:
"Do you want the red shirt or the blue one? Great choice! Now let’s put on your socks."

👦 When They Ask "Why?"
"Why is the sun bright? Good question! The sun gives us light and keeps us warm. What do you think happens at night?"

👦 Example: If your child points to the sky and says "airplane," say:
"Yes! A big airplane is flying in the blue sky. Where do you think it's going?"

Best Products for Language Development:
📚 Interactive Storybooks – Help children answer questions and predict events.
🎭 Pretend Play Sets – Encourage role-playing and storytelling.

👉 Recommended: Wooden Food Set (Encourages talking through pretend play).

💡 Tip: This age is great for singing songs that repeat words, like "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and "The Wheels on the Bus."

📚 3-4 Years: Talking to Your Curious Preschooler

By now, children understand conversations, ask lots of questions, and express opinions. Their vocabulary is growing, and they start telling stories!

🗣️ How to Talk to Your 3-4-Year-Old:

✔️ Ask open-ended questions – "What do you think will happen next?"
✔️ Introduce new words – Use words like "enormous" instead of just "big."
✔️ Encourage storytelling – Let them "read" books by describing the pictures.
✔️ Play word games – "Can you find something that starts with B?"
✔️ Talk about past and future events – "Yesterday, we went to Grandma’s. Tomorrow, we’ll go to the zoo!"

Example Conversations:

👧 Example: At bedtime, ask:
"What was your favorite part of today?"👧 When Reading a Story:

"What do you think happens next? How do you think the character feels?"

👧 At Mealtime:
"This apple is sweet and crunchy! What does your banana taste like?"

Best Products for Language Development:
📚 Rhyming Storybooks – Build early literacy skills.
🎤 Kids’ Microphone Toy – Encourages storytelling and singing.

👉 Recommended: "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" by Eric Carle (Fun repetition for language learning).

💡 Tip: Given them time to think before answering—don’t rush to fill in their sentences!

5-6 Years: Talking to Your School-Ready Child

At this age, children express ideas, ask complex questions, and enjoy deeper conversations. They love learning new words and talking about things they see and do.

How to Talk to Your 5-6-Year-Old:

✔️ Encourage opinions – "What do you think about that story?"
✔️ Use rich language – "That’s fascinating! Can you explain why you like it?"
✔️ Let them take the lead – Ask, "What would you like to talk about?"
✔️ Encourage problem-solving – "How can we fix this together?"
✔️ Talk about feelings – Helps with emotional intelligence.

Example Conversations:
During Playtime:
"Let’s pretend we’re astronauts! What do we need for our space adventure?"

When Problem-Solving:
"Your tower fell down. What can we do differently this time to make it stronger?"

Best Products for Language Development:
📚 Question-and-Answer Books – Encourage critical thinking.
🧩 Storytelling Dice – Help kids create their own stories.

👉 Recommended: Rory’s Story Cubes (Boost creativity and conversation).

Example: If your child asks, "Why is the sky blue?" you can say:
"Great question! The sky looks blue because of how sunlight moves through the air. What do you think would happen if the sky was green?"

Tip: At this age, children love jokes and riddles—have fun playing with words!

💡 Final Tips for Parents: Creating a Talk-Rich Home

✔️ Be patient – Let them finish their thoughts.
✔️ Make conversations fun – Use play, songs, and books.
✔️ Limit screen time – More face-to-face talk = better language skills.
✔️ Show interest – When they speak, make eye contact and respond thoughtfully.
✔️ Celebrate their words – Praise them for trying new words and forming sentences.

💬 Parent Reflection: What’s your child’s favorite word or phrase right now? Share in the comments! 👇

Conclusion: Talking to Your Child
the EYLF Way

Talking to your child isn’t just about teaching them words—it’s about connecting, guiding, and nurturing their learning journey. By using the EYLF principles, you can help your child develop confidence, language skills, and strong emotional connections.

Start today! Engage, respond, and enjoy conversations with your little one.

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