How to talk to a 2 yr old on the phone

While two-years olds love to talk to someone on the phone, their attention span is short and they seldom respond. And when they do respond, it is difficult to understand their words over the phone. Here are a few tips to talk to a toddler. I'd like to hear yours as well.

How do you keep the conversation going?
1. Sing a song and ask him/her to sing along. The alphabet song teaches them their A-B-C's as well.
2. Count to ten with the child.
3. Ask them what sounds different animals make.
4. Play with their imagination: Ask where they are ticklish going through different parts of the body, for example "Is your tummy ticklish? Is your leg ticklish? Is your neck ticklish? The buildup usually has them laughing althougth they may not answer. Then make tickling sounds until they giggle.
5. Imagine together that you and the child are doing something together - like flying like a birdie. For example, "First we must bend down and then move our arms and then go up in the air... etc."
6. Ask them what colors different items are that they can see from where they are standing. (Take this from your memory).

Most importantly use your natural voice, not baby-talk and real but very simple words.
Suni