1. Explain why it is important to engage infants in conversation-like turn-taking.
• It is important to engage infants in conversation-like turn-taking because as infants interact with those around them, they begin to participate in dialogic turn taking and this contributes to children’s awareness of how language used for different purposes or intents in a specific contexts. This also establishes the patterns for future, more complex conversations and helps children develop the neural networks in the brain that contribute to language competencies.
2. When interacting with infants, why is it important for teachers to “observe, wait and listen?”
• It is important for teachers to observe, wait, and listen when interacting with infants because by closely observing a child’s focus of attention and facial expressions, teachers are able to interpret and understand the child’s interests and feelings better. When the teacher waits several moments before responding, it gives the child a chance to express his needs and interests. Teachers who listen closely for a child’s …show more content…
For instance, when it is time for feeding, the teacher can talk about types of food served and encouragement for the child’s efforts in feeding. This can also be done at diaper changing and dressing time by the teacher talking or singing. Because the child is face to face with the teacher during this time, this provides a good opportunity to establish eye contact and conversational turn taking through imitation of the infant’s cooing and babbling responses. Teachers who carefully observe a child’s behavior and provides ample time for the child’s response, as well as actively listening to the child’s communication efforts, these times become times of learning and enjoyment for the young
• It is important to engage infants in conversation-like turn-taking because as infants interact with those around them, they begin to participate in dialogic turn taking and this contributes to children’s awareness of how language used for different purposes or intents in a specific contexts. This also establishes the patterns for future, more complex conversations and helps children develop the neural networks in the brain that contribute to language competencies.
2. When interacting with infants, why is it important for teachers to “observe, wait and listen?”
• It is important for teachers to observe, wait, and listen when interacting with infants because by closely observing a child’s focus of attention and facial expressions, teachers are able to interpret and understand the child’s interests and feelings better. When the teacher waits several moments before responding, it gives the child a chance to express his needs and interests. Teachers who listen closely for a child’s …show more content…
For instance, when it is time for feeding, the teacher can talk about types of food served and encouragement for the child’s efforts in feeding. This can also be done at diaper changing and dressing time by the teacher talking or singing. Because the child is face to face with the teacher during this time, this provides a good opportunity to establish eye contact and conversational turn taking through imitation of the infant’s cooing and babbling responses. Teachers who carefully observe a child’s behavior and provides ample time for the child’s response, as well as actively listening to the child’s communication efforts, these times become times of learning and enjoyment for the young