A child needs a communication partner and opportunities to interact with both adults and peers. Adults often do their best to understand their children, while preschoolers need to be more explicit in their communication when they talk to peers. Thus, by interacting with both, they can practice different aspects of communication. Spend time with your preschooler and give her your attention. Focus on her when you are communicating; undivided attention sends the signal that you are available and ready to talk to her. It also sends the signal that what she says is important. Get down on her level and actively listen to her. She may not always have the words to express her thoughts and feelings, so repeat back the words and be patient.
Tune in to the way he expresses himself and notice the emotions behind the words. Eye contact is vital when you are communicating; it shows respect. It also helps you to tune in to his feelings. He may know many words, but he relies on clues, such as your body language and tone, to interpret your messages. Take his attempts to communicate seriously and encourage him to talk about different things that happened during the day. The more you interact and communicate with him, the better foundation for language you will give him.
Talk about everyday activities. Observe what she does and what captures her attention, and use this to teach her more about the subject. Ask questions and expand her vocabulary by discussing the subject from different angles. Expanding on the subject shows her other words that she can use when talking about that particular subject. Thinking skills development is promoted when you show her that the same things can be said in a wide range of ways. Allow her time to respond to your expansion, which will help motivate her to communicate about other things.
Preschoolers are curious, and they ask a lot of "why" questions. By providing an answer, you invite him to expand his thinking. Look for solutions and answers to his questions. Use the questions to increase his vocabulary and capture his curiosity about different subjects. Good questions support a conversation and he will appreciate your answers to the questions. Ask questions to encourage discussions. Pose open-ended questions, such as, "What do you think?" This invites him to engage further in communication with you.