Children have an innate ability to learn the language that is used in their environment. Language acquisition of all children occurs gradually through interaction with people and the environment.

Children learn at different rates. Some are fast language learners and some are slow.The important thing to watch is that language development proceeds steadily.

To acquire language, your children need to be exposed to environments rich with language.    A comfortable, familiar environment promotes the best communication opportunities.

Snack time and meal time are ideal opportunities to have discussions about the children's day or interests. Talk to your children about events and things that are of interest to them.

Language and Speech Development: - 12 -18 Months

Language development begins before birth and continues to be a major part of the child's development. 

At this age, communication consists mainly of smiles, babbles, and cries. Infants imitate facial expressions.

They are able to recognize familiar faces  and objects. By 12 - 18  months, vocabulary increases with children learning 10-30 words in a month. Repeat words and sentences

To nurture language development  in infants:

* Have frequent interactions, talk to them

* Establish eye contact , encourage them to speak

* Play with them, e.g. make airplane sounds with toy plane

Language and Speech Development: 18 months  -2 years

Children repeat words and sentences. Use language to name belongings and point out named objects.

At 2 years old learn new words and continue to increase their vocabularies. Children at this age have the ability to communicate wants, needs, and thoughts.

Questions are asked frequently, What? And Why? They learn  to use sentences. Enjoy songs and fingerplays. Like to listen to stories. 

To support the children's language development:

* Have frequent interactions with the children at play or work   

* Ask children open-ended questions ;"Tell me about....."

* Encourage  children to share their thoughts, actions, ideas.

* Allow children to make mistakes in articulation and grammar.  

Language and Speech Development: 3 - 4 years

Children at the age three, enjoy songs and fingerplays. They learn nursery rhymes  and listen to stories.

To support the children's language development:

* Parents need to provide opportunities for your  children to talk

* Listen to your  children, and offer expansions of their sentences to enhance meaning.

* Any grammar mistakes the children make will be self-corrected through learning experiences

* Sentences contain four or more words

* Imitates adult speech patterns accurately

* Knows and understands nursery rhymes

* Enjoys asking questions

* Talk to themselves during play

* Pronouns are usually used correctly

Children at the age of four, vocabulary is now extensive. They can speak longer sentences. They can narrate stories including sequence of events. 

* Can use language to share, take turns, argue, collaborate etc.

* Begin to describe how other people feel

* Vocabulary is now extensive

* Longer and more complex sentences are used

* Are able to narrate long stories including sequence of events

* Questioning is at its peak

Language and Speech Development: 5  years 

By age five, they are able to remember lines of simple poems,  repeat full sentences, and know the words to many songs.

Children enjoy stories, and are able to retell the stories. Sentences are usually correctly structured although incorrect grammar may still be used

* Pronunciation may still be childish

* Have a wide vocabulary and can use it appropriately

* Vocabulary can include shapes, colours, numbers etc.

* Questions become more precise

Language and Speech Development: 6 Years

* Understands 13,000 words

* Understands opposites

* Classifies according to form, colour and use

Characteristics of Language/Communication: - 5-6 years

Children 5 to 6 years old are  quiet fluent in their speech. Communicates easily with adults and other children.

They can recognize and reproduce many shapes, letters, and numbers.

They are gaining control over writing and drawing tools.

They understand that letter written on a page represent spoken words and words often have multiple meanings.

How to Promote Children's Language and Speech Development

* Nursery rhymes with actions like Incey-wincey-spider, help to connect language to actions.

* Play games which can help develop attention and support language

* Books are a good way to promote speech development

* Toys, objects and books that can be used to encourage children's attention and listening skills.

* Talk about everyday activities e.g. putting away the shopping. This helps your child to connect language to the world around them.

To Your Parenting Success

Helen Law

Guide to Holistic Childhood Education- Holistic Living Wellness for Your Families

N0. 11 Jalan H1, Taman Melawati,  53100 Kuala Lumpur Contact: 603-41054382