PROMOTING LANGUAGE

Parents are the child’s first teachers. They are fundamental contributors to their childs success of learning language. A language enriched home environment is crucial to child’s development.
Some suggestions to promote language use at home are:

BIRTH TO 1

Respond to your child's coos, gurgles and babbles
Read books with big colorful pictures
Sing songs and nursery rhymes
Expose your child to new places and people
Talk to your child as you care for him/her throughout the day
Play simple games, such as "peek-a-boo"

1 TO 2 YEARS

Encourage early efforts at saying new words
Talk to your child about everything you're doing while you are with him/her
Talk simply, clearly, and slowly to your child
Look at your child when he/she talks to you
Talk about new situations before you go, while you're there, and again when you are at home

2 TO 3 YEARS

Repeat new words over and over
Help your child listen and follow instructions through games
Read books every day, maybe as a bedtime routine
Listen attentively as your chidl talks to you
Have your child deliver simple verbal messages for you

3 TO 4 YEARS

Talk about how objects are the same or different
Help your child to tell stories using books and pictures
Encourage play with other children
Talk about places you've been or will be going to
Read longer stories to your child

4 TO 5 YEARS

Help your child sort objects and things (e.g. things you eat, animals, fruits)
Let your child help you plan activities
Encourage telling and making up stories

ELECTRONIC GADGETS

Children are fascinated with technology. Games and applications can be a very useful tool for language development with a child. If you choose to use an electronic device with your child, you can:

Develop vocabulary by labelling with flash card apps
Upload pictures of holidays or family events and use them to build vocabulary by talking about what you see in each photo
Use art applications to create pictures - increase vocabulary by labelling what to add to each picture. Encourage story telling by making up stories about the pictures that have been created
Download nursery rhymes and songs to encourage singing together and imitation of actions