Article - Language

Language is most often broken into the areas of spoken, written and body (gestures and symbols such as expressions and body posture).

It is the system that we use to communicate with one another and in the first year of development, the child will be totally reliant on non-spoken communication, like crying and laughing, to convey needs. This is soon followed by speech which becomes the major way of communicating.

Children can generally understand most concepts and relationships long before they have the words to describe them and this is referred to as perceptive language.

Language development can be dependent on the type of language heard in the home and community they live in. A child’s environmental experiences up until this point will come together in language and learning.

Practice of the sounds needed to produce language involves physical skills to manipulate the mouth muscles. Practice of these physical skills by communication, activities, and social interaction leads to the understanding of what language is used for and a willingness to communicate with others. 

Encouragement of language will occur by spending time with children, labelling actions and objects, giving descriptions, and having discussions.

Carers who interact readily with children and their attempts to use language, and who listen to the child and respond to the child encourage language development.

Expressive language is the use of language to express to others the ideas that are spoken and written.

Receptive language is the ability to understand what others have said or written.

Experiences that encourage language include:

• Songs
• Stories
• Books
• Home corner
• Games

Language development problems can be environmental and or intellectual.
 

Some Suggested Templates

• You can browse all templates or browse by theme for: animals, transport, occupations, maths, multicultural, sea

More Ideas

• 0to5.com.au Ideas for Activities
• 0to5.com.au Templates for young children's colouring and art projects

Free Email Newsletter