The importance of language development in early childhood cannot be overstated. During these vital years, children’s ability to understand, process and produce language flourishes in an amazing way.
Exploring language helps to spark your child’s imagination while stimulating their curiosity and creativity. This in turn helps children’s brain function, social skills and communication skills. Once children learn to communicate, their world opens up in extraordinary ways!
Parents and educators are encouraged to explore new and innovative ways to support children as they discover the wonder of language and communication.
How do children develop language skills?
Daily interactions are valuable methods to help children develop expressive and receptive language skills. This could include turn-taking in conversations, listening to stories, learning songs and nursery rhymes, and playing with other children. Talking, listening and expressive themselves creatively supports children as they develop foundational language and literacy skills.
How can parents support their child’s language and literacy development?
Reading with your child
Storytime is an easy way to integrate language and literacy development into your daily routine. Reading helps children begin to understand sounds and words — foundational skills for learning to effectively communicate — while sparking their imagination and curiosity.
Storytime also has the added benefit of adding extra quality time with your child to your day. This time helps develop connections and strengthens relationships and gives children positive, long-lasting memories that they will treasure for years to come. Tips:
- Ask questions to encourage curious thinking, such as “What do you think this book might be about?”
- Tracing words and pictures with your finger helps to encourage connections and understanding that words and images have meaning.
- Actively involve your child by talking about what you are reading.
- Explore vocabulary through questions such as “What do you like about this story?”
Exploring art and writing
Exploring art and writing activities can help promote language and literacy development in young children. Activities such as drawing help to encourage curiosity and interest in letters and words, helping to encourage a deeper awareness of words, letter recognition and expressive language. Tips:
- Encourage your child to connect what they are drawing with words, such as “This is a wonderful drawing of our dog. Can you try and write the word?”
- When they are drawing, let their imagination run wild! Then encourage them to discuss what they have drawn.
- Talk to your child about the shape of letters, the sounds they make, and words that include those letters.
Every Lifelong Learning Centre integrates language and literacy development in their curriculum. Our educators actively incorporate research-supported techniques to encourage children in their lifelong learning journey.
Our expert early childhood educators understand the amazing learning potential of every baby. Our Lifelong Learning approach is practised by all 150 Lifelong Learning Centres across Australia, with each centre offering high-quality, research-driven programs for children from 6 weeks to school age.
Discover more about our research-driven learning approach or learn more about the amazing learning opportunities we offer our babies! Or, click here to discover your closest Lifelong Learning Centre and to book a Family Tour or free Stay-and-Play session!