Tips for language development

Children need to be engaged in conversations all day, every day to help them learn language.  These simple tips can help to make the most out of your interactions:

• Create a special relationship with each child!  Children learn from being engaged with others.
• Position yourself.  Get down to the child’s physical level. Get face-to-face. (Sit on the floor or in a low chair; bend down, make eye contact.)
• Tune into each child by observing their interests.  Join in the play and talk about what is happening.
• Imitate the actions and sounds the children make. Give them opportunities to imitate you too.
• Label everything in the environment. Talk naturally and use many different words. Talk about what children are doing, seeing and feeling.
• Become a partner in play. Language is best learned while doing.
• Combine gestures such as reaching, pointing or using signs with words.  Children use gestures before they use words.
• Provide visual supports: post photos, a picture schedule and visual instructions in your playroom. Children can see what you are talking about.
• Take time to listen. Respond to what is said so children know you have been listening.
• Read and sing every day. Stories and songs help children to learn vocabulary, to predict, problem solve and know about the world.
• Be a good language model. Children are always watching and listening to you. They learn from the communication going on around them.