Supporting Language Development in the Early Years: Practical Ideas for Parents

When we think of language, the first thing that springs to mind is talking. And yes, the art of speaking is a vital skill that parents and caregivers must support, but we shouldn’t think of communication only in terms of the spoken word.

The Reggio Emilia approach is big on what is termed the hundred languages of children, which is all about the many different ways that young minds convey their thoughts to the outside world. Dance, the use of colour, music, drawing, building structures… These are all examples of ways children transmit information to those around them – and these ‘hundred languages’ are crucial to learning and advancing their spoken abilities.

Diverse (& sometimes surprising) Tips for Early Years Language Development

Learning to speak isn’t something we remember as adults, but the first few years of life are nothing short of miraculous. From birth to around five years old, the brain is designed to absorb information like a sponge and at an incredible rate, with every tiny experience causing neural connections to form.

The basis from which key life skills can grow is created during these formative years. Speech, empathy, confidence and self-awareness are just some examples, and we shouldn’t think of each of these in isolation. They are all intrinsically connected, because the human brain and body is a dynamic marvel of nature’s engineering. Everything is linked, therefore when we help children with language development, we’re also supporting every other aspect of what will shape them into the wonderful unique human they’re set to become.

Those 100 languages mentioned above are all key elements in this journey and play a critical role in development, such as critical thinking, something that we delve into more detail in our article, Reggio Emilia and The Development of Critical Thinking.

But, we digress…

Let’s look at some simple, everyday tips that parents and caregivers can easily implement into daily life that are key to supporting your child’s language journey.

• At the top of the list is, quite simply, talk, talk, talk to your child:And, very importantly, listen to their responses. Even as a baby this is essential, as their gurgles, squeaks, laughter and more are all early efforts of communication. As their vocabulary develops, you can gently introduce a wider range of simple words. Keep them short – no more than a syllable or two – at first. For example, if your child is squishing their favourite toy, you could use different words for how that might feel to them. Is it soft, or perhaps furry or fluffy? It doesn’t matter if they don’t repeat back at first, repetition is key.
• Use facial expressions: For babies, this might be things like sticking your tongue out to make them laugh, slowly blinking, or blowing through your lips. As your child gets older, lots of smiling to communicate happiness, exclamations for discoveries (think, ‘wow’ when you spot something exciting), laughing when something funny happens… You get the picture.
• Reading to them: Not only is this a fabulous way to support language development, but it further forges the bond between child and caregiver. Hopefully, some of your most cherished memories of childhood are the closeness of reading with a loved one. Use books with pictures that help promote understanding and discussion, and take time to diversify from the written word if your child wants to talk further about the content.
• Use song, poems, rhymes etc: Learning and repeating is a great way to increase vocabulary. Children are innately drawn to music and rhythmic words, which is why nursery rhymes are such a good place to start. Here’s betting that you can still remember many from your own childhood – and it’s such an easy way to add them into any daily routine.
• Play make believe: By the time they become a toddler, children are beginning to grasp a rudimental understanding of things they can’t see. This includes emotions and what might happen in the future. Simple make believe games are a great way to support this. For example, you could talk about an upcoming visit to the park and what animals they might hope to see, or, perhaps, what they might see if they were able to visit a landscape in a favourite story, such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Diary of a Wombat or The Gruffalo.
• Ask open-ended questions: Life presents plentiful opportunities for questioning and asking those that encourage participation are key. Imagine that your child has lost one of their shoes. Rather than saying, “Shall we go and look for it?” (a question that invites a yes or no answer), ask something like, “Well, where do you think we might find it?”, or “Where do you think is a good place to start looking for it?” Or, rather than saying, “Do you want to go to the park?”, say “If we went to the park, what d’you think we might see?”
• Expand on your child’s observations: If your child says “cat”, you could say, “Yes, a grey cat” or “A fluffy cat”. Again, repetition is key, so keep at it even if your child doesn’t repeat back at first.

The key to supporting their development is to integrate simple methods into daily life. This is something that Evoke Early Learning staff implement in many different ways, and one of the reasons why no two days at either our Albert Park or Clayton centres are the same. We’re dedicated to continuing the great journey that you, as a parent or caregiver, are doing at home.

Want to find out more? Book a tour and come and see us in action. We can’t wait to meet you.