This is a repost from our private IG group (session families, click to read the 100+ posts over there!), but it never gets old.
A simple way to help your child absorb what you are sharing: show, then tell. (Or tell, then show…but not show & tell!)
When presenting a new activity to a child, alternate between explaining and showing. For example:
“I dip the brush into the bowl of soap.”
{dip the brush}
“Now I rub it on the gorilla’s back.”
{scrub the gorilla}
“Then I can wipe off the soap.”
{wipe off soap with the sponge}
“Would you like a turn?”
By alternating, we:
> allow the child to process visual and auditory input separately.
> can make eye contact while speaking.
> invite the child to look at what our hands are doing, since nothing is competing.
> helps us break down the task into distinct steps rather than speeding through a process at an adult pace.
> are naturally more purposeful in our delivery overall (we tend to slow down, use the fewest number of words, speak softly).
This can begin in infancy!–Now I’ll put your arm in your sleeve. {arm slides into sleeve, with eye contact & smile}– and it becomes even more significant as children get older and their activities more complex.
Of course, there will be plenty of situations when we’ll be talking and demonstrating at the same time, and processing both types of communication simultaneously is also a useful skill (research actually shows that this improves auditory processing). But when we can, and when it’s really important for kids to understand what we’re trying to communicate, this strategy is one to try.
This is honestly hard for me personally–my tendency is to talk and move at the same time–it’s a simple thing that can make such a difference in the child’s ability to absorb without frustration.
I’m Jessica Brown, an AMS certified Montessori infant-toddler teacher, and at Clementine, we offer parent-child classes for ages 0-3+…like mommy-and-me, but more. We learn and chat about topics like this one both in and out of the classroom. If you’re local to Libertyville/northern Lake County, IL and are interested in finding more about our community, I’d love to hear from you!