The Naming Walk
Parent and child walk around the house (or sit together with a basket of objects) while the guide prompts the parent to point at and name familiar things, listening for whether the child labels them spontaneously, imitates, or attempts word approximations. Captures expressive language emergence alongside pointing and social referencing.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
No special materials needed. Walk around the house or sit with familiar objects. Child should be alert and engaged.
How it works
- 1~15s
Let's start with something your child sees every day. Point at something obvious and familiar -- a light, a dog, a ball, a shoe -- and just say 'Look!' without naming it. Point and pause. Give your child a good five seconds. Does they try to say anything? Or point back? Or look where you're pointing?
Watch for: attempts_to_label_familiar_object
- 2~30s
Now let's try three or four familiar things in a row. Point at each one, name it clearly -- 'ball!' 'cup!' 'shoe!' -- and then after each one, wait and watch. I'm curious which objects get a response and which don't. Tell me about each one.
Watch for: attempts_words_for_multiple_objects
- 3~15s
Try saying a word slowly and clearly that you don't think your child knows yet -- maybe something slightly new. Say it twice, with a pause in between, and watch your child's mouth. Does they try to move their lips or tongue to match? Even a partial attempt to copy the word is interesting.
Watch for: attempts_to_imitate_new_word
- 4
Here's something important. During all of this, has your child pointed at anything? Not just reaching -- actual pointing with a finger, especially while looking at you? And if they pointed, did it come with a sound or word?
Watch for: points_to_share_attention
- 5
Let me ask you about words your child uses at other times too. Does they have any words that come out in specific situations -- like 'mama' when they wants you, or 'more' at mealtimes, or 'bye' when someone leaves? Words that are attached to real moments, not just sounds they makes randomly?
Watch for: uses_words_meaningfully_in_context