6 Weeks: Responsive Communication

At six weeks, the focus is on responsive communication with infants. Parents and carers are encouraged to look for alert periods when the baby is most receptive to communication. Responding enthusiastically to the baby's attempts at communication, such as eye contact, smiles, or reaching out, is crucial. When the baby points or waves, adults should talk about the objects of interest and praise the baby's efforts.

Example: If a baby makes eye contact, respond with a warm smile and encouraging words to reinforce this early communication attempt.

Highlight: Responsiveness and enthusiasm in adult-child interactions are key to promoting early communication skills.

3 Months: Building Communication Foundations

At three months, several key strategies are introduced to support early communication skills for infants. These include getting the child's attention and making eye contact, speaking clearly and calmly, using age-appropriate simple language, and repeating or modeling what the child has said. Adults are also encouraged to repeat sentences back to children, extending what they have said to enhance language exposure.

Vocabulary: Modeling - Demonstrating correct language use by example, which helps children learn proper pronunciation and sentence structure.

Highlight: Clear, calm speech and repetition are essential techniques for supporting language development at this stage.

6 Months: Engaging in Routines and Expressions

By six months, the focus shifts to incorporating language into daily routines and enhancing emotional communication. Adults are advised to use routines with repeated phrases and words, which helps infants associate language with familiar activities. Talking to the baby while leaving pauses for them to respond encourages turn-taking in communication. Using exaggerated facial expressions that mimic the baby's emotions, such as smiling, helps develop emotional understanding and non-verbal communication skills.

Example: During diaper changes, use a consistent phrase like "Let's change your diaper!" and pause to allow the baby to coo or babble in response.

Highlight: Incorporating language into routines and encouraging back-and-forth interactions lays the groundwork for future conversations.

9 Months: Expanding Interaction and Vocabulary

At nine months, the strategies for promoting language development for toddlers expand to include more interactive elements. Adults should continue using repeated phrases and words during routines, but also focus on gaining the baby's attention, pointing to objects, and naming them. Waiting for the baby to respond and showing pleasure when they vocalize reinforces their attempts at communication. Encouraging children when interacting with toys helps associate language with play. Additionally, recalling what the child says in conversation demonstrates active listening and encourages further communication.

Example: When playing with a ball, point to it and say "Ball" clearly, then wait for the baby to respond with a sound or gesture before showing excitement at their attempt.

Highlight: Naming objects and encouraging vocalization during play are crucial for vocabulary development at this stage.

12 Months: Commentary and Responsive Interaction

As the child reaches one year, the focus shifts to more advanced language promotion techniques. Adults are encouraged to talk about what the baby is doing using a commentary style, which provides a rich language environment. Continued use of talk during routines reinforces language in familiar contexts. Allowing time for the baby to respond promotes turn-taking in conversation. Pointing to objects that interest the baby and naming them helps expand vocabulary and connect words to the child's environment.

Vocabulary: Commentary style - Describing actions and objects in the child's immediate environment to provide context for language learning.

Highlight: Providing a running commentary on the child's activities and environment significantly boosts language exposure and learning opportunities.

15 Months & 18 Months: Contextual Language and Book Sharing

Between 15 and 18 months, the strategies focus on contextual language use and introducing literacy. Talking in the 'here and now' about what the toddler is doing helps them connect language to their immediate experiences. Sharing books and following the toddler's interest promotes early literacy skills and vocabulary development. Giving one simple instruction at a time helps the child process language and follow directions. Allowing time for the toddler to respond to questions or instructions encourages language production and comprehension.

Example: While reading a picture book, point to images that catch the toddler's attention and name them, allowing time for the child to repeat or respond.

Highlight: Introducing books and following the child's interests in conversation significantly enhances language and literacy development.

24 Months: Advanced Language Modeling and Interaction

By two years old, language promotion strategies become more sophisticated. Adults should model simple sentences to demonstrate proper language structure. Avoiding asking too many questions allows the child more opportunities to initiate communication. Making eye contact and getting down to the child's height creates a supportive environment for communication. Listening carefully to what children are trying to say, even when speech is unclear, encourages their efforts. Ensuring you have their attention before talking, even if it means waiting for them to finish what they are doing, promotes active listening and engagement.

Definition: Language modeling - The practice of providing clear examples of language use in context, helping children understand how to construct sentences and use words appropriately.

Highlight: Patient, attentive listening and appropriate language modeling are crucial for supporting the rapid language development occurring at this age.

The Importance of Language Promotion

This page emphasizes why promoting language development is crucial. Being able to speak clearly, process speech sounds, understand others, express ideas, and interact are fundamental building blocks for a child's overall development. These skills encourage good outcomes across various aspects of a child's life, highlighting the far-reaching impact of early language promotion.

Quote: "Being able to speak clearly and process speech sounds, to understand others, to express ideas and interact with others are fundamental building blocks for a child's development."

Highlight: Early language skills are foundational for a child's future success in social, academic, and personal domains.

Ways to Promote Language Development

The final page provides a concise list of effective strategies for promoting language development for toddlers. These include being a good role model, reading to children, talking together, singing with them, and encouraging pretend play. Each of these methods offers unique benefits for language acquisition and should be incorporated into daily interactions with young children.

Example: During pretend play, narrate the actions of toys or characters to introduce new vocabulary and sentence structures in an engaging context.

Highlight: A multi-faceted approach incorporating various activities and interactions is most effective for supporting comprehensive language development in young children.

Promoting Language Development: 0-2 Years

This page introduces the topic of promoting language development in children aged 0-2 years. It highlights the crucial role that parents, carers, practitioners, and other professionals play in supporting early language acquisition. The focus is on effective language interaction with babies and toddlers during this critical period of development.

Highlight: The title emphasizes the importance of a collaborative approach involving various caregivers and professionals in fostering language skills from birth to age two.