Partner with families to learn about their language practices, stories, and literacy-related interactions at home, recognizing that children bring rich knowledge and skills from their first languages and cultural experiences. Dual language learners should have opportunities to demonstrate proficiency in the standard in both their first language and English, with supports such as first-language use, cross-language connections, gestures, visuals, and props. These opportunities allow young dual language learners to build on what they know and can do in their first language as they continue to develop communication, language, and literacy skills in all their languages.
Provide infants with an assortment of balls in different sizes, colors and textures. Place the balls on the floor, and encourage the infants to reach for them. Leave the balls out for a couple of weeks before switching to a different type of toy. Substitute soft blocks, soft animals/dolls and other toys.
