995 – Talk to your child like you would talk to an adult. There is research supporting “baby talk” when a child is first born. There is research supporting talking to a child “normally”. I support normal talk. Not just in sentences and phrases, but words and acknowledgement. Talk to them as you would an adult (while understanding they are still a child). Use full sentences. Use words they may not know yet. Challenge their brain to understand the meaning or spirit of a word, without knowing the definition (ever ask an adult to define a random word they use everyday?).
Don’t talk “down” to your child. Give them the benefit of the doubt. Assume you are wrong and they know more than you give them credit for. Or, they can understand or conclude more than you give them credit for.
A Better Father 