Language Development
““If you consider the absorbent mind in relation to language, you will understand how necessary it is to put a small child among people who speak well and correctly, and who talk a great deal.”
The most powerful element in your child's language development is you!
The back-and-forth, serve, and return of everyday conversation with your child is the most potent and profound predictor of your child's future learning success, language development, and intellectual development. Using precise, rich vocabulary and correct grammar, you are building the architecture of your child's brain.
Clear adult speech, real objects, and opportunities for expression support this rapid process, allowing a child to construct language naturally and joyfully!
Talk more and follow the interests of your child. That's it!
For example:
Your child is fixated on a bird in the garden. You notice this and say,
"Kookaburra. I can see you're looking at a kookaburra." Your child looks at you; you make eye contact and smile. Your child points at the Kookaburra. "You're pointing your finger at the Kookaburra. I can see it too! The Kookaburra is sitting on the branch. It's turned its head towards the bottle brush."
This builds a very different brain than just saying, "Birdie."
Let's take advantage of this fleeting period in your child's life when their brain is most receptive, and the learning is effortless.
... and books. I could write an entire website dedicated to the lasting positive effects of reading to your child daily. If there is anything, anything I want to tell you, it is this: read to your child every day.
Read. Every. Day
Without fail, even if you’re sick, tired, over it or have a headache, just do it - (As Nike said!) I might let you off the hook if you’ve had a tonsillectomy or a bout of laryngitis. And if you don’t have a book, read the ingredients list on a box of cereal or make up a story where your toddler is the protagonist - they will love it.
Just please read. The lifelong benefits are just too many.