What is an effective way for caregivers to foster communication skills in infants?

Engaging in face-to-face interactions is an effective way for caregivers to foster communication skills in infants because it creates a rich environment for interaction and learning. When caregivers position themselves at the infant's eye level and maintain eye contact, it encourages the infant to focus on their facial expressions and vocalizations. This type of interaction promotes the development of social cues and language skills, as infants learn to recognize and respond to communicative signals.

Additionally, face-to-face interactions help infants practice turn-taking in communication, as caregivers can model sounds and words while inviting infants to vocalize back. This back-and-forth exchange is essential to the development of language, as it teaches infants the rhythm and flow of conversation. Overall, meaningful engagement between caregivers and infants during these interactions lays a strong foundation for effective communication as infants grow.