Language Tips for Parents of Young Children

Children will learn to listen if you....

Get their attention before you speak.

Say the child's name first. Wait for an answer before you speak. Touch your child before you begin to speak. It will save you time in the long run.

Get down to their size.

Stoop beside a small child. Look them in the eye when you speak to them. It encourages them to make good eye contact, and you will also be able to tell if they understand you.

Use a quiet voice.

Children have to actively listen when you use a quiet voice. Whisper to them once in awhile. Children love this and they have to listen carefully to you. It can also teach them to control their voices.

Pay attention when your child speaks to you.

When parents really listen, they show their child that listening is important. Children also know their parents care about them when their parents really listen to them. It makes children feel good when people listen to them. By listening to your child you are teaching them how important listening really is.

Talk to your child.

Talk about what you are doing. Ask your child about school, or a play date. Talk about what you see when you are at the playground, or in the mall, or while driving in the car.

Children will learn to use good language if you...

Listen to your child.

Children need time to respond and to talk. When you talk to your child don't forget to pause or add periods of silence. This shows your child you expect them to speak. Children need time to show they understand and then answer you.

Describe your child's activity to them.

When your child is playing, give a verbal commentary to describe what's going on. "You're putting your toy truck into the garage." "You are putting your big block on top of the little one. It's falling over, crash!" You will be giving your child the language to accurately describe what they are doing. Try to avoid asking questions.

Correct and give examples.

If your child says, "Her gave me cookies." You might say, "How nice, she gave you cookies." If your child says " He brung me a toy." You could respond with " I like the toy he brought you." You will be providing a good model without directly correcting your child. Since we learn language by listening, good examples become very important to language learning.