Dan Wuori
@danwuori.bsky.social
Educator, Author of The Daycare Myth: What We Get Wrong About Early Care and Education (and What We Should Do About It)
What a clever and telling response! I can’t help but think that in the moments after this video some new vocabulary was introduced.
Where does/did your child use overextension to describe things?
Where does/did your child use overextension to describe things?
November 9, 2025 at 3:03 PM
What a clever and telling response! I can’t help but think that in the moments after this video some new vocabulary was introduced.
Where does/did your child use overextension to describe things?
Where does/did your child use overextension to describe things?
You’ll note that $13 is not a random or outlandish response.
He knows that the situation calls for a quantity and a unit of measure. The word “inches”isn’t a part of his linguistic toolbox just yet… but dollars is.
He knows that the situation calls for a quantity and a unit of measure. The word “inches”isn’t a part of his linguistic toolbox just yet… but dollars is.
November 9, 2025 at 3:03 PM
You’ll note that $13 is not a random or outlandish response.
He knows that the situation calls for a quantity and a unit of measure. The word “inches”isn’t a part of his linguistic toolbox just yet… but dollars is.
He knows that the situation calls for a quantity and a unit of measure. The word “inches”isn’t a part of his linguistic toolbox just yet… but dollars is.
“How big is it?” Mom asks.
Our hero’s brilliant response: “Thirteen dollars.”
It’s a wonderful example of overextension - and window on his growing language development.
Our hero’s brilliant response: “Thirteen dollars.”
It’s a wonderful example of overextension - and window on his growing language development.
November 9, 2025 at 3:02 PM
“How big is it?” Mom asks.
Our hero’s brilliant response: “Thirteen dollars.”
It’s a wonderful example of overextension - and window on his growing language development.
Our hero’s brilliant response: “Thirteen dollars.”
It’s a wonderful example of overextension - and window on his growing language development.
There’s a lot of language to learn as a toddler - so it’s not uncommon for young children to generalize use of the words they DO know to make up for those they don’t.
I loved watching this little guy (shared to IG LeannePearson, shown here at 26 months) as he measures a chair with a tape measure.
I loved watching this little guy (shared to IG LeannePearson, shown here at 26 months) as he measures a chair with a tape measure.
November 9, 2025 at 3:02 PM
There’s a lot of language to learn as a toddler - so it’s not uncommon for young children to generalize use of the words they DO know to make up for those they don’t.
I loved watching this little guy (shared to IG LeannePearson, shown here at 26 months) as he measures a chair with a tape measure.
I loved watching this little guy (shared to IG LeannePearson, shown here at 26 months) as he measures a chair with a tape measure.
The trick is to think like Goldilocks - looking for toys that are neither far too simple for your child, nor far too sophisticated - but just right (allowing their meaningful use both now and for the foreseeable future).
What types of toys have you found that meet these criteria?
What types of toys have you found that meet these criteria?
November 1, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The trick is to think like Goldilocks - looking for toys that are neither far too simple for your child, nor far too sophisticated - but just right (allowing their meaningful use both now and for the foreseeable future).
What types of toys have you found that meet these criteria?
What types of toys have you found that meet these criteria?
As you shop for toys, consider your choices carefully… assessing first for safety and then for how and whether they may lend themselves to different and increasingly sophisticated uses as your child grows. When you can identify multiple uses, you’ve generally found a winner!
November 1, 2025 at 1:47 PM
As you shop for toys, consider your choices carefully… assessing first for safety and then for how and whether they may lend themselves to different and increasingly sophisticated uses as your child grows. When you can identify multiple uses, you’ve generally found a winner!
He’s not quite ready to sort the by size, but that doesn’t make the activity any less meaningful. It’s simply a matter of matching the task at hand to his developmental readiness.
November 1, 2025 at 1:46 PM
He’s not quite ready to sort the by size, but that doesn’t make the activity any less meaningful. It’s simply a matter of matching the task at hand to his developmental readiness.
With the help of his parents, he’s practicing his hand-eye coordination, stacking the rings in the order presented by his adult partner. (And working on his clapping to boot!)
November 1, 2025 at 1:46 PM
With the help of his parents, he’s practicing his hand-eye coordination, stacking the rings in the order presented by his adult partner. (And working on his clapping to boot!)
At the earliest stages, your baby may simply grasp the rings and explore them with their hands and mouths - which is a perfectly appropriate starting point.
This sweet little guy, shared to IG by aren.sanjari - is in between these two extremes.
This sweet little guy, shared to IG by aren.sanjari - is in between these two extremes.
November 1, 2025 at 1:46 PM
At the earliest stages, your baby may simply grasp the rings and explore them with their hands and mouths - which is a perfectly appropriate starting point.
This sweet little guy, shared to IG by aren.sanjari - is in between these two extremes.
This sweet little guy, shared to IG by aren.sanjari - is in between these two extremes.
That’s a pretty sophisticated skill… and not where the toy’s youngest users are likely to begin.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean the toy should be withheld for later.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean the toy should be withheld for later.
November 1, 2025 at 1:45 PM
That’s a pretty sophisticated skill… and not where the toy’s youngest users are likely to begin.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean the toy should be withheld for later.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean the toy should be withheld for later.
Take stacking rings for example. They’re a great infant-toddler toy in that children can enjoy in different ways at different ages/stages.
In their idealized use, the idea is that toddlers will discriminate by size, stacking the rings in order from largest to smallest.
In their idealized use, the idea is that toddlers will discriminate by size, stacking the rings in order from largest to smallest.
November 1, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Take stacking rings for example. They’re a great infant-toddler toy in that children can enjoy in different ways at different ages/stages.
In their idealized use, the idea is that toddlers will discriminate by size, stacking the rings in order from largest to smallest.
In their idealized use, the idea is that toddlers will discriminate by size, stacking the rings in order from largest to smallest.
But these suggestions can also relate to the developmental stage at which your child will be best prepared to use the toy “as intended.”
And here I always advise a flexible mindset.
And here I always advise a flexible mindset.
November 1, 2025 at 1:45 PM
But these suggestions can also relate to the developmental stage at which your child will be best prepared to use the toy “as intended.”
And here I always advise a flexible mindset.
And here I always advise a flexible mindset.
If you’re a parent you’ve probably noticed that most toys are labeled with suggested ages. These recommendations are particularly important in terms of safety. Toys with small pieces can be choking hazards for young children, for example.
November 1, 2025 at 1:44 PM
If you’re a parent you’ve probably noticed that most toys are labeled with suggested ages. These recommendations are particularly important in terms of safety. Toys with small pieces can be choking hazards for young children, for example.
It’s all a part of language acquisition - and truly amazing to behold.
October 29, 2025 at 12:50 PM
It’s all a part of language acquisition - and truly amazing to behold.
As the senses activate near the end of the third trimester, children are exposed not only to the tone of their own mothers’ voices but the prosody of their spoken language. After birth these patterns are evident in both the intonation of their cries and their earliest speech sounds.
October 29, 2025 at 12:50 PM
As the senses activate near the end of the third trimester, children are exposed not only to the tone of their own mothers’ voices but the prosody of their spoken language. After birth these patterns are evident in both the intonation of their cries and their earliest speech sounds.
Speech therapists call this prosody and - believe it or not - it’s something infants begin picking up in utero, even before they enter the world.
October 29, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Speech therapists call this prosody and - believe it or not - it’s something infants begin picking up in utero, even before they enter the world.
Many of you tagged me this week on this video shared by p0lar_fawn (X), which depicts the babbling of a happy French baby.
If you listen closely, you’ll notice that the phrasing, intonation and vowel sounds in the little one’s vocalizations - while not yet conventional - sound distinctly French.
If you listen closely, you’ll notice that the phrasing, intonation and vowel sounds in the little one’s vocalizations - while not yet conventional - sound distinctly French.
October 29, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Many of you tagged me this week on this video shared by p0lar_fawn (X), which depicts the babbling of a happy French baby.
If you listen closely, you’ll notice that the phrasing, intonation and vowel sounds in the little one’s vocalizations - while not yet conventional - sound distinctly French.
If you listen closely, you’ll notice that the phrasing, intonation and vowel sounds in the little one’s vocalizations - while not yet conventional - sound distinctly French.
We can each play a role in supporting the optimal development of the young children in our lives by engaging with love, care, and our full attention.
In a world where you can be anything, be like Papa Brian!
In a world where you can be anything, be like Papa Brian!
October 23, 2025 at 1:39 PM
We can each play a role in supporting the optimal development of the young children in our lives by engaging with love, care, and our full attention.
In a world where you can be anything, be like Papa Brian!
In a world where you can be anything, be like Papa Brian!
Frequently we discuss attachment and early relational health in terms of a parent (often a mother) and child. And while this relationship is indeed critical, the luckiest children have webs of secure, trusting relationships with multiple beloved caregivers.
October 23, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Frequently we discuss attachment and early relational health in terms of a parent (often a mother) and child. And while this relationship is indeed critical, the luckiest children have webs of secure, trusting relationships with multiple beloved caregivers.
Brian’s joyful rendition of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes is illustrative of the loving bond they share. Check out that eye contact. Those looks of sheer delight.
October 23, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Brian’s joyful rendition of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes is illustrative of the loving bond they share. Check out that eye contact. Those looks of sheer delight.
But how lucky are those who can count a whole collection of adults who feel the same way?
One of my favorite things on social media recently has been a series of videos shared to IG by gwynyth depicting not only her own interactions with her newborn son, but those of her father (aka Papa Brian).
One of my favorite things on social media recently has been a series of videos shared to IG by gwynyth depicting not only her own interactions with her newborn son, but those of her father (aka Papa Brian).
October 23, 2025 at 1:39 PM
But how lucky are those who can count a whole collection of adults who feel the same way?
One of my favorite things on social media recently has been a series of videos shared to IG by gwynyth depicting not only her own interactions with her newborn son, but those of her father (aka Papa Brian).
One of my favorite things on social media recently has been a series of videos shared to IG by gwynyth depicting not only her own interactions with her newborn son, but those of her father (aka Papa Brian).