Are you hoping to bump up your little one’s verbal skill, but don’t quite know what to do? Don’t worry we’ve got 3 easy tips to help.
Early language development is a critical aspect of a child’s overall development. It not only helps them communicate and express their needs and wants, but it also plays a role in their cognitive, social, and emotional development. As a parent, it’s natural to want to do everything you can to support your child’s language development. In this blog post, we will discuss some key areas that you should focus on and why they are important for early language development.
Let’s start with: functional language. This refers to the words and/or phrases that a child uses to communicate their basic needs, such as “drink,” “eat,” “sleep,” and “potty.” These words are essential for children to be able to express themselves and for caregivers to understand their needs. You also want to think of what is functional for your child and your family. For example if your family often goes outside and swings on a play set, you may want to add “out” and “swing”. If you have food in a closed pantry, you may want to add “open”. When talking about functional language you want to look at your child’s world and at its simplest form, what words would help them navigate their life while reducing frustration. Don’t be shy to share this with your therapist either; I always ask and welcome parents to add to our word list. Ultimately my job is to increase their communication, improve home life, and reduce frustration. And don’t forget how effective modeling and encouraging the use of functional language can be. You can achieved this by using it yourself and reinforcing its use when your child uses it.
Next we have: Nonverbal language, or body language: Communication is communication, it doesn’t matter the mode and we want to celebrate and encourage this. This includes gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact. Nonverbal language is a crucial way for children to communicate before they have developed verbal language skills. It’s important to pay attention to your child’s nonverbal cues and respond appropriately. For example, if your child points to something they want, it’s important to follow their gaze and provide them with what they are indicating they want. I have had parents worry that if they encourage non-verbal communication their child will never speak. And, while there are children who can be stubborn, more frequently what I have encountered is when we reduce the pressure of verbal communication and provide them access to the world, their verbal expression starts to come more naturally.
Our last point: Narrating actions and activities to your child. This is also an important aspect of language development. This means describing what you and your child are doing as you go about your daily routines. For example you might say, “We are getting ready to go outside. First, we are putting on our coats. Now, we are putting on our shoes. Let’s go!” This helps your child learn new words and understand the relationships between objects and actions. It also helps them develop their narrative skills, which are important for both oral and written language development.
So, if you want to continue bumping up your little one’s language skills you’re focusing on (1) Functional language, (2) Non-verbal language, and (3) Narrating. You can do it.
And remember if you aren’t sure and looking for some guidance or have concerns for your little one, feel free to reach out. We serve the Tampa Bay area in person and further virtually.
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