A quick video highlighting positive communication strategies

A 3 minute video teaching positive communication skills to parents.

We love this 3-minute video from the CDC that clearly demonstrates four positive communication skills to use with your child: Praise, imitation, description, and active listening. Using these strategies helps you connect with your child, while also supporting your child’s cognitive and emotional development.

Positive communication can also help reinforce the behaviors of which you’d like to see more, in a way that feels good for both you and your child. It’s never too early to start practicing! Parents of infants and young babies can imitation and description early on — like reaching for a toy when your baby reaches for it (imitation), and being a “narrator” of what your child is doing, for example, “you’re crawling towards the blocks” (description). Starting early is a great way to build the habit and feel more confident using these skills as your child grows.

The demonstration of each specific skill occurs in the video at:

• praise (0:28)

• imitation (1:00)

• description (1:26)

• active listening (1:57)