Let's get our bi-weekly support calls for classroom members scheduled! The first meeting will be open to ALL members! A space to ask questions, problem-solve, and get clear on how to actually use strategies with your child. First call: week of May 11 Which days and times work best?? If other, comment to suggest another time (days are set).

This week you’re going to sing one nursery rhyme each day. Why this works: Nursery rhymes are repetitive, predictable, and full of rhythm. That combination makes it easier for children to anticipate, imitate, and eventually join in. You might even notice your child starting to fill in a word, gesture, or sound by the end of the week. Your plan for the week: Pick 1 rhyme per day (you can repeat!). Examples: - Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star - Wheels on the Bus - Itsy Bitsy Spider - Row, Row, Row Your Boat - Old MacDonald - How to do it: - Get face-to-face (down on their level) when you can - Use gestures or simple actions - Keep your voice animated and playful - Pause before the last word in a line (e.g., “The wheels on the bus go round and…”) - Wait a few seconds to see if your child fills it in (word, sound, or gesture all count) What to watch for: - Looking at you more - Smiling or anticipating what comes next - Attempting a sound, word, or movement - Trying to “join in” even if it’s not clear yet Which nursery rhymes does your child respond to the most?

Progress doesn’t have to be big to matter! Sometimes it’s: - a new sound - a new word - more eye contact - taking a turn - trying something (e.g., food, activity) they usually avoid 💬 If you're comfortable, share one win or piece of progress you’ve noticed recently

If your child is pointing, reaching, handing you things, or looking back and forth… they’re already communicating. The goal isn’t to “make” them talk. It’s to show them how words can work the same way their gestures do. 🧠 Why They’re Using Gestures Kids naturally choose what’s easiest and most efficient. Right now, gestures are: - faster - easier to control - already working Speech, on the other hand, is a complex motor skill. It requires coordinating the lips, tongue, jaw, breath, and voice all at once. So if a child can get their needs met by pointing or gesturing they will. Our job is not to take gestures away. It’s to add words alongside the gestures so speech becomes just as useful. 👀 Acknowledge First Start by showing them you understood. - “Oh, you want UP!” This keeps communication successful and motivating. 🗣 Model the Word + Gesture Back Pair their gesture with a simple word. - Child points → you say: “Ball!” (and point) - Child reaches → you say: “Up!” (and lift arms) Keep it simple and tied to their message. 🎶 Use Parentese Slightly slower, sing-song tone helps highlight the word. - “Baaaall!” - “Upppp!” 🔁 Repeat Repetition helps their brain and body learn the word. - “Ball! You want the ball? Ball!” ⏸ Pause and Wait After you model… pause. Give them a chance to: - look at you - try a sound - gesture again - imitate Even a small attempt counts. You’re teaching: - “My communication gets a response” - “There’s a word for what I mean” - “I can try it too” That’s how gestures turn into words over time. If your child is using gestures but not yet talking, they may still be building key communication foundations like shared attention and imitation Drop a comment with a gesture your child uses and I’ll help you turn it into a word to model 👇

My 21-month-old prefers using gestures. She had over 20 words by 18 months, but her language progress has slowed since then. How can I help her turn gestures to words?