You’ve probably heard that talking to your child is critical for their language development. But did you know that not talking sometimes is just as important?

When children are learning to communicate, they need many opportunities to start interactions, and they often need extra time to send their messages. If adults do all of the talking, children don’t get a chance to start an interaction and they don’t have enough time to think before sending their message. That’s why one of the best things you can do during interactions with your child is to WAIT expectantly.

This handout will help yourecognize the power of waiting, how to wait effectively, and what to look out for while you're waiting.