# How can I work on Requesting and Commenting with my child at home?

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-requesting-and-commenting-with-my-child-at-home
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

Build requesting by creating small reasons to ask — favourites out of reach, choices, helpful 'mistakes', and pausing fun. Build commenting by narrating side by side, showing wonder, reading together and adding one word. Accept every attempt and follow your child's lead.

*Two of the most powerful little words in your child's day are "I want" and "Look!" — and your living room is the perfect place to grow both.*

## In short
Requesting (asking for what they want) and commenting (sharing something interesting) are the twin engines of early communication. You can build both at home, every day, with no special equipment — by setting up small moments where your child has a reason to ask, and by narrating the world together so they learn that talking is fun, not just functional. Little and often beats long and forced.

## Everyday ways to grow Requesting
Requesting starts when your child wants something they cannot reach on their own.
- **Put favourites in sight but out of reach** — a snack on a high shelf, bubbles in your hand. Wait, look expectant, and respond to *any* attempt: a point, a sound, a word, or a gesture.
- **Offer choices** — "Apple or banana?" Hold both up. Even a look or reach is a request you can honour and name aloud.
- **Be a helpful 'mistake-maker'** — give a closed jar, a crayon with no paper, one shoe. These gentle obstacles invite your child to ask for help.
- **Pause the fun** — push the swing, then stop and wait. The pause becomes an invitation to ask for "more".

## Everyday ways to grow Commenting
Commenting is sharing for the joy of it — no reward needed but your delighted face.
- **Narrate side by side** — "Big truck! It's so loud!" Talk about what your child is already looking at, not what you want them to look at.
- **Show genuine wonder** — point and say "Wow, look at the dog!" Sharing attention is the foundation.
- **Read together** — point to pictures and comment rather than quizzing: "The cat is sleeping," not "What's this?"
- **Match and add one** — if your child says "dog", you say "big dog". This keeps the bar reachable and shows the next step.

Keep it playful and follow your child's lead. Accept every attempt — sounds, signs, pointing and words all count as communication.

## The Pinnacle way
These home strategies sit alongside, not instead of, professional guidance. A clinical [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care — our [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) team can shape these [requesting and commenting](/requesting-and-commenting) activities precisely to your child's stage and strengths.

## Trusted sources
Guided by guidance from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association on early language and joint attention, and the CDC's developmental communication milestones, both of which emphasise responsive, play-based, everyday interaction.

**Next step —** message our team on WhatsApp at +91 91001 81181 to book an assessment and get a home plan tailored to your child.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

## Sources
- ASHA: How children develop speech and language: https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/
- CDC: Developmental milestones: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent
- Communication: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/communication
- Find Activities: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/find_activities
- Family Empowerment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/family_empowerment

## Related question paths

### At home & in everyday life
- How can I work on Requesting with my child at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-requesting-with-my-child-at-home
- Working on Requesting Needs at Home: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-requesting-needs-with-my-child-at-home
- Working on Requesting Skills at Home: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-requesting-skills-with-my-child-at-home
- How can I work on Simple Requests with my child at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-simple-requests-with-my-child-at-home
- How can I work on Simple Request with my child at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-simple-request-with-my-child-at-home
- Working on Basic Requesting at Home: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-work-on-basic-requesting-with-my-child-at-home