Beyond the Here and Now means you'll respond to your child's utterances by modeling more adult-like utterances, adding more words to what they say, or sharing new information to build on the topic.
When you do this, you're teaching them new vocabulary words, how to talk in more complex sentences, and how to learn and think about new information.
Here are three easy ways to use this strategy:
- Model or demonstrate the complete sentence or question. This will help your child improve how they use sentences and ask questions.
- Expand their vocabulary by using different words that mean the same thing.
- Stimulate their thinking with comments or stories to provide new information to extend what they're talking about. Connecting the familiar with something less familiar helps your child learn about the world.