Baby Tips

• Talk! Babies are learning new words long before they can speak, so talk to them all the time. 
• Read books, especially with interesting words. Don't replace challenging words—explain them. 
• Talk about the things you see in books that are familiar to your baby. "This baby is wearing a hat—you wore a hat this morning when we went outside!" 
• Talk about pictures in books and what characters are doing and feeling. 

Toddler Tips

• Keep talking! Toddlers learn new words every day, and talking exposes them to more.  
• Read books. Books have many words in them, so your toddler learns new words when you read. Explain challenging words instead of replacing them. 
• Encourage your toddler to talk, even if they only speak a few words. Ask questions and give them time to respond. 
• Talk about the things you see in real life that you read about in books. "Look at that fire truck! We read about a fire truck. That fire truck was red, but this one is yellow."

Preschool Tips

• Talk together. Ask questions and have conversations. 
• Start conversations when reading books. "They are eating soup. Have we eaten soup before? What kind did we have?"
• Read a variety of books, including nonfiction. Nonfiction books can be full of new, interesting words. 
• Have your child describe the pictures in books and the things you see. Use the phrase, "Tell me about..."