Parents are often concerned when their child hasn’t started to talk as early as their peers. If you’re worried that your child isn’t meeting their communication milestones, know that you’re not alone. We’re here to help you and your child through this early and important stage of their life. For starters, check out the following link for further information. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/not-talk.html
Here at Mt Pritchard Kindy, we work with children one-on-one and in group settings to develop their speaking, listening, comprehension and expressive language skills.
We know that children are only ready to learn when they feel relaxed and secure in a trusting environment. That’s why we prioritise ensuring they have a positive relationship with a familiar educator.
Shared engagement allows for quality interactions which facilitate imitation and learning. We let children show us their favourite activities. Allowing them to lead us to the things they find most interesting sets up a foundation for sustained engagement. This is essential for them to access opportunities to learn from us.
Interactions don’t have to start with words. It can come in the form of back and forth imitations of actions, sounds and responses, e.g. mimicking an action your child makes with a toy.
Know that children use the form of communication that appears to be most effective to get what they want. Whether it is a tantrum on the ground or pulling your hand towards the fridge, children will continue these early behaviours if they see that it gets results.
At Mt Pritchard Kindy, we show children that words are much more effective than gestures and behaviours.
Let me share an example:
Child A didn’t want child B chasing him in the playground. Some educators might just redirect the children and miss the learning opportunity. Instead, we modelled how we can move our hand forward and say, “Stop”, right then and there. It worked like a charm. Both children learned the meaning of ‘stop’ and just like that, child A uttered his first word, “stop”. It was a powerful word for him and a great start to his formal language use.
Introducing books at an early age is a great way to promote their communication, particularly their comprehension and use of simple vocabulary. Reading one-on-one with a child doesn’t have to involve reading every word on the page. In fact, it is most effective when children are given the chance to have a ‘conversation’ about the pictures they see. Allow them to tell their story, whether it’s through simple words, e.g. “Look!”, or sounds “Baa”. We’ll explore some strategies to make the most of reading in the coming weeks. But for now, have a look at https://www.readingrockets.org/article/dialogic-reading-effective-way-read-aloud-young-children.
At Mt Pritchard Kindy, we’re able to consult with a Speech Pathologist and have regular discussions about various developmental issues. So if you have any queries or concerns, be sure to let us know. Our staff are here to support you and your child at every stage of their development.