The sixth developmental skill in the WIN-TIRI format is R – Respond
Last week we completed the first five skills in our WIN-TIRI format. We focused on a child’s ability to WIN – Be Watchful, Intentional, and Noisy, and also to Turn Take and Imitate. The sixth step is to teach children how to Respond. We want children to respond to the things that we say. Does your child understand our questions, our directions, our comments? Go here to read my blog post on teaching a child to respond.
Helping a child learn to respond.
Responding to the world around us is crucial to a child’s development. When children go to school, they need to be able to understand and respond to what the teacher is saying and what their peers are saying. Some children are unable to focus on the words or others because the world is too confusing, too busy, and too frightening. Other children are hyper-focused on what they love to do, making it difficult to focus on the questions, directions, and comments of others.
Every child can benefit from parents, teachers, and other caregivers focusing on conversations with them. Children need to hear you talking to them. PLEASE keep children away from screen time as much as possible. I worry about children who have limited exposure to direct interaction with people. When I go to a restaurant, and I see a child staying busy with a device, watching a movie or playing a game, my heart breaks.
Trust me. Being a mother of 3, I know how hard it is to help children behave in a restaurant, but this social situation is one of the BEST learning opportunities for your child. You will be teaching your child when you have a conversation with him. You will be getting your child ready for school when you ditch the screen and focus on face-to-face conversation.
Have you seen my Alpaca Pearl books? Buy one and get one free for the next two weeks.
I went to Peru several years ago and saw the goofiest alpaca. From the photo I took of her, I created 2 children’s books focused on Alpaca Pearl’s desire to travel. These books, Alpaca Pearl Packs for Peru and Alpaca Pearl Packs for the Poles, focus on helping Pearl pack her suitcase. Alpaca Pearl books are literally PACKED with questions. If you need a tool to practice understanding and answering questions in a fun and interactive way, these books are for you. I have even printed a manual in the back of the book to give further suggestions on helping children respond to the words and phrases of others.
At check-out, order 2 Alpaca Pearl books of your choice and use the coupon code, Pearl, to receive one for free. This offer is good for 2 weeks.
