ConnectStudies show that meals are one of the most important times to be together as a family. Catherine Snow and her colleagues at Harvard University conducted research on literacy development by taping what happens at family meals. They found that the families who interacted with each other at meal times were more likely to have children with better literacy skills in the school-age years. Family mealtime interaction took place when caregivers extended children's interests, which helped children use language to analyze, sequence, and predict while helping children appreciate the joy of language. Watch and ListenDo your children listen to what you and others say? Do they have opportunities to talk, listen, and take turns? Do they look forward to telling you about their day? What sounds and words do they try to say? What are they trying to communicate? ExtendWith Your Baby
With Your Toddler
With Your Preschooler
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