February 21st is International Mother Language Day. We don’t often think about the languages we speak or use. Usually, we simply use the first word that our brains come up with. Our language, at least our first or mother language, just flows without our having to think about it at all. It’s a blessing to be able to express yourself with words, to be able to communicate and share your thoughts. So as we think about this International Mother Language Day, let’s think about a few ways to develop language skills with our kids and within our families.
It’s so fun to interact with a little one learning to talk. And we know how important it is for our kids to learn to communicate. There are several ways to help our kids develop these skills. Let’s look at 5 ways to develop language skills with our kids.
Encourage communication early
Even though our babies cannot speak to us, we can speak to them. We can narrate what is happening throughout our days, and we can tell them how we feel about them. And we don’t have to use only words. Babies respond to our facial expressions and tones, as well as to the overall movements we make. These are all ways to communicate and develop language skills with our babies.
Cooing and babbling are other forms of communication for a little one. We usually don’t need to be reminded to respond to these adorable forms of language, and that’s a good thing. They really are forms of communication, and our responses help our babies learn to interact.
If you’re reading this, you probably already know about Baby Signing Time. Let me just remind you that we provide this program to teach babies as young as 6-months old over 100 basic signs to help them express their needs and thoughts. We’ve seen this program help families work through frustrations and minimize tantrums because a child who could not talk yet was able to sign. And did you know that kids who learn to sign in their early years have an easier time learning to speak and read?
Let’s encourage early language development.
Provide a language-rich environment
Here’s another way to develop language skills with our kids. Provide them plenty of words. We can do this through nursery rhymes and songs – another thing that comes naturally in early childhood. And all those stories we’re reading to our babies? Those count too. Can anyone else recite Good Night Moon by memory? These words work in our kids’ memories too.
Imaginative play is another way to fill the space with words. It’s a great way to help our kids think through the concepts behind what they are doing and the words that go with their stories and play.
Conversations
Here’s a way to develop language skills with our kids as they do learn to speak. Let’s encourage conversations. Our initial response might be to say, “Of course we have conversations!” And yet, in today’s busy and digital focused world, it’s easy to lose our time and willingness to have conversations that count.
How can we make a conversation count? We can ask open-ended questions, and probe further when our kids tell us something. Don’t let an answer get by you without asking more about it and showing that you are thinking about what they said. And listening – let’s listen well and actively.
Use playtime to develop communication
Again, as our kids are able to talk, their playtime becomes a primary way to develop language skills. As they pretend to be different characters and go to different places, they learn to use different words or accents, playing around with their language.
Kids can do this with puppets, action figures, and dolls too. Using new words to express new situations – this is language development. Board games and playing with friends help with language skills as well. Each of these activities works those language muscles in our kids’ brains, and they are great ways to develop language skills with our kids.
Balance screentime with real interactions
We do live in a digital world, so screens are a part of our kids’ lives. Still, we can help them learn that real interactions with people are so much better. Let’s provide plenty of face-to-face opportunities for our kids. This is a good way to help our kids balance real world life with digital life.
And let’s make sure our kids are using educational and interactive media rather than apps that are for simple scrolling or watching. At My Signing Time, we push for lots of interaction, singing, moving, and learning. Check out our Watch Free section for a sampling of what we have to offer in our ad-free app. You can even try it out for free for 2 weeks!
Challenges
Of course, many children have specific challenges when it comes to language. And while it’s important for us to be patient with our kids as they learn to communicate, it’s also OK to check your concerns and questions with a professional. Sign language has been a solution for many children with speech delays and challenges, and that’s a key reason that Signing Time exists. And that’s just one solution. So there are options, even if your child has language challenges. Thankfully, there are professionals to help us work through these issues.
So, as we work through these ways to develop language skills with our kids, let’s be encouraging, patient, and consistent. My Signing Time is here to support you and your kids!