Whether you want to make sense of the babble or you’re just keen to keep your child’s development on track, there are ways to help them along with their communication skills.
We can probably all agree that baby babble is cute but it has its drawbacks. Unexplained tantrums in the supermarket aisle, 3am meltdowns, and mashed potato missiles would all be a little easier to manage if there were just some words strung together into a few of those helpful things known as sentences. We can’t claim to have the secrets to solving all – or perhaps any – of your current infant/toddler/young child communication dilemmas, but we do have a few insights and tips to help you with the longer term journey of building skillful young communicators. We might even have a handy little workshop for you to check out.
Why are speech and language skills important?
We’re all social beings (despite Netflix’s best attempts to keep us firmly planted on the couch), and it comes naturally to us to want to share our ideas, thoughts and feelings with others in different ways. It’s how we relate to people as we learn more about ourselves and the world around us. So, it really goes without saying that it’s vital to support our little ones to build strong skills in speech and language. It’s a talkative and interesting world out there!
What are the different stages of speech and language development?
In the first couple of years, the speech and language development of infants and toddlers normally happens progressively, and the first three years of life are often considered critical in laying the foundations of overall development in later years. Development gradually transitions from simply exploring with vocalisations and responding to their own name in the first six months, to using single words with meaning, and becoming aware of the social value in speech by the time they’re around a year old. By the time they turn three, kids can usually develop a whopping vocabulary of around 1,000 words that allows them to form short sentences to successfully express their ideas, enquiries, and needs (or, let’s call a spade a spade; demands!).
What can I do to help my kids?
As always, it’s important to remember that every child is unique and develops at a different pace. Most little ones will at some point try to engage and interact with others, and it’s important to acknowledge their efforts, even when they’re making as much sense as a Teletubby speaking Dothraki underwater. The best thing you can do for your child is to be patient, listen, and wait for them to respond, giving them the time and space to communicate with you. Also look for patterns in their efforts and respond both verbally and non-verbally so they feel a sense of empathy from you. Sing, talk, and take everyday opportunities to engage them in interaction. Every little bit helps!
Remember it takes two to communicate. Kids need to be talked with, not just talked to. Early language experiences encourage children to explore and experiment, but they also importantly serve as building blocks that support them in developing relationships with others through social interactions. Lead by example!
As a parent, you are the one who has the strongest bond with your child, so you have a huge advantage over teachers (and any other influences in their life) to support their development as communicators. The chats you have with your little one are often more meaningful as a result of your close relationship, so it’s key to identify what motivates them to interact with you and what interests them, so you can recognise how to kick things off. Give your kids plenty of opportunities to talk with a wide circle of people of all ages, and make it fun!
Where can I get expert help?
During September one of Singapore’s leading preschools, Learning Vision, is focusing on helping parents better understand their child’s abilities in this area. They’re offering a ‘Linguistics and Communication Discovery Workshop’ and a one-on-one consultation to all parents with kids aged from one through to six years. The workshop will give you an opportunity to observe, analyse and respond to the unique way your child experiences the world through language, so that you can better give them the most fulfilling learning experiences in life!
Register here for the workshop, which will be held at Learning Vision at Temasek Club on 17th September 2016, 9am-3pm. Get in quick to avoid disappointment!
This post is sponsored by Busy Bees Learning Vision.