What is responding?

Responding is when you listen to something and then say or do something back.

Imagine you're playing with your favorite toy, maybe a teddy bear. You say, "Hi, Teddy!" Then Teddy responds by saying, "Hello!", or maybe he just wiggles his arms like he's waving. That’s responding: hearing something and then doing or saying something back.

• Listening is the first part. You need to hear what someone says (or even what your toy does).
• Reacting is the second part. You think about what you heard, and then you say or do something in return, like talking back, smiling, clapping, or even giving a hug.

Responding can be simple or complicated. Sometimes it's just saying "yes" when someone asks you if you want to play. Other times, it might be writing a whole letter to tell your friend about your day. But no matter how big or small the response is, it’s still responding, just like Teddy does every time you say hello!