"Children should be seen and not heard..."

"Children should be seen and not heard". That may have been your grandparent's or great grandparent's philosophy but not anymore. Talking to children and engaging them in daily conversation is a key element of early learning. Young children learn best when they are connected, happy and involved. Having two way interactions or conversations with a child increases their cognitive development.  The more you talk with your children, the more their vocabulary increases. Also, the mere stimulation of the brain creates synapses or brain waves that increase learning capacity. Just asking your child a simple question like "Are you ready to choose your breakfast?" is great lead in to wonderful morning exchange. Non-verbal children benefit from this dialogue when they pick their breakfast by pointing or gurgling. This makes a child feel happy and involved, as well as empowered!

Be sure to get down to your child's level and make eye contact every time you communicate. In our busy lives we sometimes forget that they are "down there" and when we don't connect, our messages may get lost. Not only does your child miss out, but so do you. When a young child feels connected with a parent, caregiver or teacher his self esteem increases. When a child feels secure and confident, he is more likely to try new things, be more expressive, ask questions and continue to develop emotionally, socially and cognitively.

Share stories with your child. Tell him about the day he was born. Depending on how old he is this can lead to many other discussions; but mainly gives the message that he is loved and cherished. Use story time with your child to share your early childhood experiences. For example; you can share that perhaps learning to tie your shoes was also a tough accomplishment, but with practice and you parent's help you learned how to do it yourself. This reassures your child that his experiences are common and helps to instill self-esteem and confidence.

No child is too young to have a "conversation". It's a win, win situation. Learning can only occur when a child is socially and emotionally connected. In the end, you can be sure the adult benefits as much or more than the child. So if you think that talking to your child is simply a lesson in vocabulary-think again-it is a lesson in life!