How to Talk to Kids Before They Talk Back – Words that Make them Feel Seen, Heard, and Loved Hailey Paschold March 6, 2026

What we say to infants and toddlers shapes far more than behavior. It shapes their brains, early identity, and capacity for connection. In this interactive professional development session, participants will explore the science of early language development through the lens of healthy relationship, human connection, and intentional language.

Pulling from two chapters of Cara's new book, Talk to Them Early and Often, the session will explore a new language framework: The Talking Triangle. Through functional discussion you will identify how pre- and emerging verbal children turn our words into meaning based identity statements. Educators will also learn and practice a powerful language strategy, The “Yes, No, Maybe” proposition, a linguistic tool for responding to children's many questions and requests in ways that preserve connection, support regulation, and build collaboration, while setting and holding boundaries.

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how intentional language builds neural pathways for trust and confidence, along with concrete sentence starters they can immediately apply in infant and toddler classrooms.