Whether it’s mama, dada, or dog, everyone gets excited about baby’s first word! But what about the words that come afterward? Children start by building their receptive language, the language they hear and understand. Their expressive language refers to the language they can produce. Both are important not only for the ability to communicate, but for academic success as well. Having a great vocabulary is the first step in literacy and can give them many essential tools.
Perhaps most importantly for school success, a more developed language ability will increase children’s ability to comprehend the texts they read.
Learn how you can easily increase your child’s expressive and receptive language.
Treat even the youngest child as a potential conversationalist
By giving children a turn to “talk”, even an infant begins to understand the conventions of conversation. Your child can begin to understand that people take turns during a conversation and that questions generate and answer even before they become an active participant.
Ask questions and give your child time to respond
Giving children ample time to respond to your questions allows them time to independently choose the proper vocabulary. According to Speech-Language Pathologist Jo Hayes, “There is an enormous difference in engaging in a conversation that is restful, not rushed or hasty, and one that is the opposite. When we get a sense that our conversational partner is content to sit in silence for a few seconds longer, to enable us to pause, consider, and contemplate before rushing into delivering a response, we generally deliver a more complete, cohesive, well-articulated response with well-chosen vocabulary.
Ask open ended questions
Rather than asking your child yes or no questions, give them the opportunity to expand their answers. Hays suggests, “Instead of, ‘Did you have a good day at school?’ Try, ‘What was the best thing that happened today?’ ‘What did you like about it?’ ‘What did you learn today?’” This encourages your child to come up with many words they would not have thought of if you had asked a simple yes or no question.
Add to what your child already says
Expand on what your child already knows by adding words to their sentences. If your child points and declares “cat” you could add, “The cat is soft and furry!”
Make errands a time to learn
Even as you do your daily errands it is easy to take the opportunity to develop language. Discuss purchases to your child as you place items in the basket. Statements and questions such as, “We’ll have this chicken for dinner tonight!” or “Did you notice how fresh the broccoli looks today?” introduce new vocabulary.
Sing as you go about your day
Children can learn a lot of language from music. Sing your way to the tub during bath time or make a song part of the bedtime routine. As an added bonus you will often be exposing your children to rhyming, a precursor to reading.
Read aloud
Research suggests that reading to children can be even more effective than talking to them for building vocabulary. Sometimes parents will naturally explain the new words they encounter. Other times children will decipher the meaning from context. Both routes lead children to increased vocabulary.
Model rather than correct
When your child mispronounces or uses incorrect grammar, repeat the sentence back using the correct form. For example, if your child says, “I goed to the store with Daddy,” you would repeat “Oh! You went to the store?” This gives the child the needed information without making them feel bad about having made a mistake.
Narrate as you go
Talk aloud about what your child is doing. As your child plays, narrate as if you were at a sporting event. “You stacked four blocks!” This not only helps build your child’s receptive language, but can help build self-esteem as your child hears that you find their activities interesting and meaningful.
Turn down the background noise
A study from 2016 suggests that background noise may hinder children’s ability to learn new words. If the TV or radio is a constant in your household, it may be worth turning it down or off to help your child’s language development.
If you have concerns about your child’s speech, asking their pediatrician or teacher is always a great way to gain a fresh perspective. They will let you know if your child might benefit from a speech screening. Whether you’re concerned or just want to provide enrichment, you can encourage your child’s language. These easy steps will become habit if used frequently and will help your child both communicate more effectively and increase school success!