Oral language is the cornerstone of all literacy skills. It’s the foundation upon which reading and writing are built. When children experience a rich environment of talking and listening—whether with adults or other children—they develop a vast “bank” of words. They learn not just the words themselves, but their meanings and how to use them effectively in communication.
How to Support Your Child’s Language at Home
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Speak Meaningfully Throughout the Day
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Engage in conversations with your child during everyday activities. This could include anything from cooking to running errands. For example, while hanging up the laundry, you might say, “Let’s get the washing off the line. We need to fold the towels, the shirts, and dad’s shorts.” By associating words with actions, your child will develop links between words and their meanings.
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Narrate Actions During Play
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As you play together, talk about what you’re doing. This can help develop your child’s narrative skills. For instance, while setting up a pretend picnic, you could say, “I’m going to have a picnic. I’ll need two cups, a spoon, two plates, and a picnic rug. What else should we take?” This type of narration creates context for the words, making them more meaningful.
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Engage in Dramatic Play
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Dramatic or role-playing is another fun and creative way to develop language. It encourages turn-taking, using varied pitch, rate, and volume, and helps children express themselves through storytelling and imaginative scenarios. You might say, “Let’s pretend we are going to drive a car,” or “Let’s set up a pretend store.” Role play builds both vocabulary and social skills.
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Read Aloud Together
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Reading aloud is an invaluable practice. Choose brightly colored, engaging books with vivid pictures to help stimulate your child’s imagination. Ask open-ended questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why do you think the character did that?” This helps your child understand the story and develop thinking and language skills simultaneously.
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Sing Songs Together
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Singing is not only fun, but it also supports language development. Research shows that a musical environment in infancy promotes the development of communication skills. Singing along to songs like The Wiggles or Play School while in the car can be an excellent way to introduce new words, rhythms, and concepts. Singing makes learning enjoyable and memorable.
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