Notice the many ways your little one constantly sends messages about wants and needs.
- I am eager to communicate with you through…
- my voice (cries, vocalizations, coos, babbles, words, signs)
- my facial expressions (smiling, frowning, grimacing, widening my eyes)
- my hands (gestures, pointing, signs, grasping and dropping objects, wriggling fingers)
- my arms (reaching, pushing away, flailing), and my legs (kicking, straightening, rhythmic movements)
- Sometimes, my whole body sends a message. Watch all of me! Each time we connect during daily routines, playing, and snuggling, my brain grows stronger.
- Consider…
- When I want to engage with you, how do I show you? What about when I have had enough?
- What do I do when I am starting to feel hungry? What about when my tummy is full?
- When I am enjoying myself, how do I show it? When I am frustrated or angry, how do I react?
- When I want something, how do I tell you? How do I tell you when I don’t want something?