20 Tips for Creating a Language Rich Environment for Your Toddler

Invitee Post by Katie ofPlaying With Words 365

We know that exposure to print and letters/letter sounds is imperative for literacy development. A quick Google or Pinterest search for terms like "preschool literacy" or "toddler literacy" will provide you with millions of literacy activities. With all the emphasis on these types of activities, you may exist surprised to larn that a very important predictor to a kid'due south subsequently literacy skills requires just yous, your child, and some conversation. Within this post, yous will discover some great tips for creating a language-rich environment for your toddler.

The Power of Our Words

There is a plethora of research that indicates that children with strong language skills in the preschool and early on school years volition take strong literacy skills subsequently in life. Specifically, these studies tell us this:

• The quantity of words spoken to a child in the first three years of life is strongly associated with a child's linguistic communication skills, vocabulary size and IQ afterward in life. Quantity is especially of import in toddlers anile 12-24 months for vocabulary development.

• Quality of words is also so important on vocabulary development. Especially in toddlers aged 24-36 months, who do good from hearing more than sophisticated vocabulary.

• Children exposed to more than positive feedback and statements in relation to negative feedback in the first three years of life had the highest linguistic communication skills at age three and across.

• Children who were engaged more in conversation past their caregivers or teachers knew more colors, letters and shapes at age 3 than children who were engaged less in chat in those first few years of life.

• Conversations and narratives about past and future events are specially important for preschool children aged 36-48 months.

• The size of a child's vocabulary in kindergarten predicts his ability to learn to read.

• Children learn language and vocabulary when they are direct spoken to, not then much from passive exposure like from watching TV.

• Children learn linguistic communication in everyday moments and through PLAY.

So, we know that more exposure to linguistic communication in the first several years of life correlate to overall stronger linguistic communication and literacy skills after in life. The question is, how to provide our children with a language rich environs in which to acquire, especially in the starting time few years of life? Today I'thousand going to share some tips with you to do JUST that!

Creating a Language Rich Environment

It is admittedly amazing watching children larn to talk. They start out with babbles that morph into single words that they shortly learn to string together to class sentences. By age iii, nosotros tin really have conversations with these lilliputian people! And the more amazing thing is that these children are learning language in the everyday moments of life! I'm talking nigh meal times, diaper changes, dressing in the mornings, and in their everyday play. These sometimes boring and mundane activities for us adults are actually the ones that matter most. Here are some tips on making those everyday moments count, especially with picayune ones. Click on the link to read more tip in more than detail.

i. Slow down and exist truly present in your interactions as much as possible. Put downwards the phone, close the estimator, and exist present with your body and mind, as much every bit possible.

2. Talk to your child throughout everyday activities

3. Follow your child's lead in everyday activities. Believe it or non, this can be challenging sometimes!

4. Whenever possible, get downward at your child's level to communicate with him/her.

5. Don't just focus on your kid's words; scout your child (particularly pre or not verbal) for his nonverbal communication cues. This is especially important for children who are not all the same communicating with any/many words.

6. Interpret your child's messages (both exact and nonverbal).

seven. Answer meaningfully to your child'southward communication attempts inside your child'due south Zone of Proximal Development.

8. Try to continue your language positive. Residue the inevitable "no'southward" "stop's" and the "don'ts" with LOT'S of positive talk! I suggest 5-6 positive comments for every negative.

9. Talk nearly what you are doing and what he is doing during your everyday routines. During diaper changes, meal times, bath times, etc.

10. Inquire questions, but not likewise many. Balance your comments to questions at around 4 or v comments to each question.

eleven. Expand on what he/she says. If your toddler says "car!" aggrandize his words and tell him "Yes! A blueish car!" Stress those new words.

12. Provide your little ones with opportunities to communicate throughout their twenty-four hours.

xiii. Read, read, and read some more! Ask questions, talk almost the pictures, stress new words and accept FUN.

14. Invest in quality toys that do NOT require batteries! I have some tips on picking toys here.

xv. Consider a toy rotation. Children are more than likely to stay with one toy for longer periods of fourth dimension, allowing a more rich learning feel, when less toys are within reach.

16. Play with your child. I know this sounds like a given but when was the last time you lot got on the floor and played with your kid? Children acquire through their play and play is your perfect opportunity to jump in and follow their lead to respond meaningfully!

17. Terminate counting, and start communicating! Sure, incorporate letters and numbers into your daily life but don't brand those the focus of those early on years (especially the first 3 years).

18. Start SINGING! Singing is awesome for speech and language. Itsy Bitsy Spider, Wheels on the Charabanc, fifty-fifty Let it Go (ha…if you aren't ill of it withal!)

nineteen. Stay agile! Head to the park or outdoors every bit children ofttimes acquire language while on the move.

xx. Limit screen time. For ii reasons: 1) inquiry shows vocabulary is best learned through straight conversation and 2) fourth dimension spent on the screen is time spent NOT doing other things, that are better for their evolution.

When Talking Isn't Enough

Sometimes, you can exercise everything "right" and still have a kid who struggles in the area of oral communication and linguistic communication development. In fact, my own son has a mild spoken communication delay and I am a speech and linguistic communication specialist! If your child is displaying any Carmine Flags for spoken communication and language delays, I suggest you have your kid seen by a certified speech-language pathologist in your area. Yous may also be interested in checking out my How to Help Your Child Talk series, where I share tips on how to interact with your child t best support his speech & language development (many of which I've shared above, and many more coming in the weeks ahead!) If you lot'd like to learn more than about speech and language development, you may want to cheque out my Speech and Language 101 page equally well.

I'd love to hear how YOU get the conversations going in your firm! What fun things practise you do to introduce new vocabulary and permit opportunities for meaningful conversation?

This invitee post is from Katie Yeh, Yard.A., CCC-SLP, a pediatric speech communication-linguistic communication pathologist who blogs at Playing With Words 365 where she shares information well-nigh speech communication and language development, therapy ideas and tips, intervention strategies and a niggling about her family unit life also. She'south Mom to three kids ages five, 3, and viii months. She is passionate well-nigh educating, inspiring and empowering parents of children with all abilities. In addition to her own web log, Katie is a regular contributor to The Friendship Circle's Special Needs blog.

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