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

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