Supporting my Child to Learn Words
Opportunities for language learning are everywhere. Create a language-rich environment by using everyday routines to help your child with first words.
Children need to hear a new word lots of times before they understand what it means or can start using it themselves. Make the most of activities that you do together every day as these are perfect moments for repetition and language learning.
For example:
Bath time: “Bath time”, “splash”, “nose”, “eyes”, “hands”, “bubbles”, “wash your hair” and “finished”.
Feeding/mealtimes: “Cup”, “mouth”, “eat”, “drink”, “bowl”, “apple”, “table”
Shopping: “apples”, “in the bag”, “more apples”, “hungry”, “yummy”, “time to go home”.
Getting dressed: “let’s get dressed”, “jumper”, “pull”, “over your head”, “trousers up”, “ready!”
Key points to remember:
- Talk to your child about what you are doing.
- Focus on functional everyday words like ‘finished’, ‘more’ or ‘eat’ and names for favourite toys, people, food and drink
- Don’t forget to use some action words (verbs) as well as object words (nouns)
- Try not to ask your child lots of ‘what’s that?’ questions - they won’t be able to answer you if they are still learning about these words! So it’s more helpful for your child to hear you say the words, “milk” or “teddy” or “all gone”
To support your child’s understanding:
- Keep your language simple – just a single word like ‘milk’ or ‘finished’ or a very short phrase like ‘shoes on’ or ‘wash your hands’
- Make things visual – use a gesture or actions at the same time as saying the word(s). This helps your child to ‘see’ what you mean. You can use your own gestures and actions or try a signing system like Makaton. You can read more about Makaton here. This video shows Makaton signs being used as part of the nursery rhyme Incy Wincy Spider.
To help your child express themselves:
- Create opportunities and reasons for communication – don’t anticipate everything your child needs or just give things to them. Try offering your child a choice – hold out the items for them to see at the same time as saying the choice, eg ‘banana or apple?’. Your child may choose by looking, taking, making a sound or they may try and copy the word. Accept their choice, and when you give the item to them repeat the word again – ‘banana’.
- Try creating surprises within the daily routine – this is really fun and gives you and your child new things to talk about. For example, put socks onto their hands instead of their feet; or say ‘here’s your drink’ but give your child an empty cup.
Last updated22 Jul 2024