Support Language Development in under 3s
Language development in under 3s is a critical stage for building communication skills. Here are some activities that can support language development in young children:
- Read aloud to your child: Reading to your child helps build vocabulary, develops comprehension skills, and encourages a love of reading. Choose age-appropriate books and ask your child questions about the story.
- Sing nursery rhymes and songs: Singing helps children develop phonemic awareness and rhythm, which can support language development. Encourage your child to join in and sing along with you.
- Play pretend: Role-playing games like playing “house” or “doctor” can help children learn new words and practice language skills in a fun and engaging way.
- Engage in conversations: Have frequent conversations with your child, even if they cannot speak yet. Speak in a slow, clear voice, and respond to their vocalisations and gestures. Encourage them to make sounds and respond to your questions.
- Label objects and actions: Point out objects and label them, such as “cup,” “ball,” “book,” etc. Use simple sentences to describe actions, such as “Mommy is cooking,” “Daddy is driving,” etc.
- Encourage language play: Play games with your child that involve language, such as rhyming games, “I Spy,” and memory games that involve naming objects. Check out this brilliant list of word play games that we rate.
Remember that children develop language skills at their own pace, and every child is unique. The most important thing is to engage with your child and provide a supportive and nurturing environment for language development in under 3s.
