Let’s Talk!
As you may know, literacy is the foundation of future learning, making early literacy a vital part of our children’s development. One of the components of early literacy is language skills. Let’s explore what this means and how we can start developing these foundational skills with our little ones.
What exactly are language skills? In simple terms: the ability to talk and to understand when someone talks to us. When we talk, we are using oral language, which is often referred to as expressive language. When we listen to someone else talk, we are using listening comprehension, which is often referred to as receptive language. Both expressive and receptive language are important skills that our little ones need to develop. Does that mean we need to teach our babies how to talk and listen? Actually, no! Learning how to talk typically comes quite naturally to humans. Our brains are wired for language, meaning we are born with the ability to learn how to talk and understand spoken language. But that doesn’t mean that parents and caregivers have no role in the learning process. We play a very important role. Let’s break it down.
When we speak, we say words. Every word we say is a combination of sounds that carry meaning. As babies, we learn to decipher these sounds when we hear our parents and caregivers talking to us. Soon, we learn to associate certain sounds with things that are important to us, like mommy, daddy, bottle, etc. At this point, we start to babble in an attempt to mimic those sounds. Within a year, we’ve made sense of the sounds of hundreds of words that we’ve heard, and we’re well on our way to talking. This process is the same in all languages, with babies learning how to decipher the unique sounds of their language, babbling as they try to mimic the sounds, then eventually talking.
So, if it comes so naturally, do we really need to make a special effort to support the process? Remember that language skills, like all early literacy skills, are foundational. Foundations can be shaky or firm. So, while our kids will learn to talk regardless of whether we put any intention into the process, imagine how we can strengthen the foundation with just a bit of effort. As we know, hearing words helps build language skills, so if we increase the number of words and use richer words when talking to our kids, we can help build a firmer foundation!
How do we do this? What words do we use? Don’t worry. You do not have to sound like a professor or speak in grammatically perfect sentences all the time. But here are some things you can do:
Babies: Respond to their babbles. These babbles are their first attempts at expressive language. Respond by talking in full sentences and describing what is happening around them. For example, if your baby is holding a stuffed bear and babbling, you could say, “You have a teddy bear. How does the teddy bear feel? Is it soft? What color is it? It’s brown, just like your hair.” Continue along these lines, naming colors, shapes, textures, etc.
Toddlers: Ask open-ended questions, questions that require more than just a yes or no answer. For example, during mealtime, instead of asking if your toddler wants ketchup, ask, “Would you like me to put ketchup on your plate, or would you like it in a little bowl?” This will require your toddler to answer with more than just a yes or no, giving them an opportunity to build expressive language.
Preschoolers: Include them in what you are doing and encourage them to use their thinking skills. If you’re getting ready to make dinner, invite your child into the process by asking, “I’m making mashed potatoes. What would be the best utensil for mashing? How about a spatula? No? Why wouldn’t a spatula work?” These questions will encourage your child to respond with a reason, which requires a bit of deep thinking and practice putting their thinking into words.
In each of these scenarios, the children are learning to associate the words they hear with the objects or experiences being described. The baby is learning to associate the word soft with the feeling of softness. The toddler is learning the difference between plates and bowls, and the preschooler is learning how to explain their reasoning about why a spatula wouldn’t be a good choice to mash potatoes. These interactions go a long way to help build a strong foundation of both listening comprehension and oral language.
So, what’s the takeaway? Even though spoken language comes naturally to us as humans, having intentional conversations with our little ones can go a long way to help strengthen their receptive and expressive language skills. These skills will benefit them later when they’re learning to read. Not every conversation you have with your child has to be a learning experience, but look for a few opportunities throughout your day, at mealtime, bedtime, bath time, or driving in the car. A little can go a long way! Next up, we’ll talk about how to build language skills through reading!
