At three years old, a child is already expected to reach the speaking stage. This is why parents become concerned when their toddler merely babbles instead of speaking intelligible words. It makes them question whether their child’s language development is normal, leading them to think, ‘Am I supporting my kid enough to help them learn to speak?’
Whether you’re addressing these concerns or proactively enhancing their skills, remember that you can facilitate your child’s linguistic growth. All you need to know is how to teach them. This article explores incredible tips and tricks to enhance language development in kids.
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Setting the stage
Language development is one of the crucial areas in a child’s cognitive development. Language makes it easy for them to communicate with others and express their feelings and desires with clarity. It helps foster social relationships and emotional bonds. More so, it helps them understand the world around them.
During early childhood, the brain is exceedingly receptive to language. It’s the reason young children soak up words and sounds like a sponge. The brain’s plasticity makes rapid linguistic acquisition possible.
Preschool environments are especially beneficial for kids, as they get to interact with several others, unlike at home, where there might not be many people to talk to. Thus, enrolling your child in a reputable school, such as Belmore Preschool, is a prudent step.
As a parent, however, you should understand that every child has their own pace regarding language development. Some manage to speak quite early, while others take time. So recognize your child’s abilities and celebrate their uniqueness. Don’t feel the pressure if other kids of your child’s age are speaking more words than yours. Give them time, and they’ll pick up at their own pace.
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Engaging strategies for every stage
Below is a breakdown of critical early childhood stages with their corresponding language development milestones.
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0 to 6 months
Research indicates that the first six months of a child’s life are the most critical to a child’s development of language skills. Try to talk, sing, and read aloud to your baby. This lays the groundwork for language acquisition. Your voice simultaneously soothes and teaches them. As you do so, remember to encourage responsive interaction. Research age-appropriate games you can play with them. And beyond speech, engage their sense of taste, touch, and smell, which indirectly aids language learning.
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6 to 18 months
At this stage, your child’s babbles slowly transform into words. Interactive storytelling helps them gain critical linguistic concepts. Read books out aloud to your kids using different voices, as you point pictures to ignite their imagination. Ask relevant questions and allow them to answer. This stimulates them to form thoughts into words. As they draw close to 18 months old, they should have known about 10 to 15 words.
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18 to 36 months
This is when your child begins to form sentences. It’s critical to model grammar correctness. Correct them gently when they make mistakes. Take care not to discourage their attempts. Playful repetition is an excellent learning tool at this stage, a philosophy embraced by St Ives Childcare. They understand the importance of nurturing young minds through engaging activities that encourage repetition in a fun and supportive environment, helping children to develop essential skills while fostering a love for learning. Repeat words, phrases, and sentences in different contexts to inculcate the linguistic concepts in their young mind. You’d also want to introduce simple songs to make learning more creative.
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3+ years
The three-year mark signals you to further expand your child’s language skills. One critical task is encouraging them to love books. Buy books suitable for their age and encourage them to read on their own. Moreover, engage them in art, music, and drama to reinforce their linguistic skills. Ask them to tell stories. It could be as simple as recounting their day. And as they advance, they can also try creating imaginary fables.
This is also when they should join preschool. The CDC labels the three-to-five age range as the ideal preschool years. Interacting with other students from all walks of life further enhances their language skills.
Each stage of development comes with distinctive opportunities and challenges. Know the needs of each one and support your child accordingly.
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Supporting language development holistically
Here are some tips to help you train your child effectively:
- Celebrate milestones: Your child may make several mistakes as they speak. Don’t be tempted to correct them all the time. Just select a few notable slips and highlight the errors in the gentlest way possible. Otherwise, focus on congratulating your kid for the milestones they’re achieving. It bolsters their self-confidence and makes learning enjoyable for them.
- Limit screen time: Videos often keep children captivated and silent for prolonged durations, potentially causing their communication skills to stagnate. Cut the time they spend on the TV and phone. Prioritize real-life interaction with family and friends, which offer diversified language models and contexts, strengthening conversational skills.
- Build relationships: Language learning is not all about opening their mouths to utter words. Positive social relations with friends and family encourage them to naturally engage in conversations.
- Collaborate: Teaching your child to speak isn’t a solo show. Team up with teachers and healthcare professionals to collectively improve your kid’s linguistic abilities. Trained experts can employ effective strategies that you may not be well versed in.
With patience, you can achieve your desired results by following these tips.
Conclusion
Proper language development in kids requires proactive intervention by the parent. It takes the right blend of strategies for a holistic learning journey full of fun. Aside from the tips mentioned, consider other useful tactics like mobile apps, community programs, and language development groups. You can also join online parenting forums to help you navigate the journey of nurturing your kid linguistically.
