Besides facial expressions and role models, pictures are worth a thousand words to a child who watches the world and yet has not mastered its language. Use pictures to explain your words about things that are not in the room with you.

Collect pictures that relate to your child's life. Photographs, calendars, magazines, catalogs, Internet pictures and graphics, greeting cards, stickers, labels from food products, and drawings are a few sources for easy-to-get pictures.

Use Pictures to Talk About Family Traditions

Use photos of past experiences to talk about upcoming activities and occasions. Make use of multiple print options at the photo store, print select pictures with your printer at home, or let your child view them on the computer screen.

Consider using a picture next to your child's calendar to signal something very special, such as a birthday, house guest, or vacation. Be sure to talk to your child about what will be different this time around. For example, last year you went to the beach on vacation. This year you will go camping.

Stickers are useful when marking special events on the calendar or creating reminder notes. You may want to communicate: Wear your green pants [green sticker with word] and yellow shirt [yellow sticker with word].

Create food cards by gluing product pictures on index cards. Talk with your child about the list for your trip to the store: “We need milk. We need bread. We need soup.” Point to each picture card as you talk.