How to talk to infants and toddlers while they play: language that fosters connection, confidence, and creativity by Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed.

<p><strong>RESOURCES</strong><a href="https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/webinar/how-to-talk-to-infants-and-toddlers-while-they-play-language-that-fosters-connection-confidence-and-creativity-by-cara-tyrrell-med" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"></a></p><ul><li><a href="https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/webinar/how-to-talk-to-infants-and-toddlers-while-they-play-language-that-fosters-connection-confidence-and-creativity-by-cara-tyrrell-med" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Watch the full webinar here</a></li><li><a href="https://earlychildhoodwebinars.com/?utm_campaign=42933521-2026%2F08%2F26%20%7C%20How%20to%20talk%20to%20infants%20and%20toddlers%20while%20they%20play&utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=spotify" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>Join our newsletter!</strong> Earn your Professional Development hours with FREE sessions delivered right to your inbox every week</a></li><li><a href="https://www.tryplayground.com/?utm_source=eci&utm_medium=podcast_ad&utm_campaign=playtalk&utm_content=spotify" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Check out the producer of ECI, Playground, the Child Care Management Software</a></li></ul><p>Get ready to play as you learn to speak infant and toddler!</p><p><br></p><p>Explore how intentional language during play helps infants and toddlers build meaning, connection, confidence, and a lasting love of learning. Grounded in play-based neuroscience, this workshop examines the powerful relationship between adult expressive language and the ways young children process, understand, and respond to the world around them.</p><p><br></p><p>Participants will look closely at how language supports child-led play, self-exploration, and early problem-solving. The session will introduce different types of prosocial play and explore how specific phrases can nurture curiosity, creativity, and communication in developmentally appropriate ways. Through a linguistic lens, participants will also examine common habits in adult language, consider how young children interpret what they hear, and identify more effective ways to communicate during everyday interactions.</p><p><br></p><p>Based on <strong>The Talking Triangle Framework</strong> from <em>Talk to Them Early and Often</em>, this session brings theory to life through modeled examples, video clips, and ready-to-use sentence starters that participants can immediately apply in the classroom or at home. Educators will leave with a practical approach to using language during play in ways that support cognition, strengthen early identity, and foster deeper connection in the first three years.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Learning objectives:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Explain the difference between receptive and expressive language in preverbal infants and toddlers.</p></li><li><p>Name three types of child-led play and describe their early learning benefits.</p></li><li><p>Identify five sentence starters that support connection, encourage curiosity, and cultivate creative thinking in infants and toddlers.</p></li><li><p>Apply intentional language strategies by generating developmentally appropriate phrases for everyday play and interactions.</p></li></ul>