Sentry Page Protection
Sentry Password Protection Student Login
Student Login
Forgot? Show
Stay Logged In
My Profile
Javascript Required

CHILD GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, AND LEARNING * 1 HOUR * LEVEL 2

Tuning Into Children’s Language 

Page 6
Examples of Activities that Build Language Skills

There are many different ways to integrate activities that build language skills into your daily routine. The following are just a few. See how many you are currently incorporating into your program.
  • Reading books
  • Asking questions
  • Role-playing puppet shows
  • Sharing felt board stories
  • Participating in role-plays
  • Reciting nursery rhymes
  • Singing songs
Each of the activities mentioned above can help your children develop language skills. Let’s take a look at one of the activities in more detail.
Reading Books

Reading books to young children is perhaps the best way to promote language development. 

Research has shown that reading to children regularly helps them become better readers later in life. Therefore, it is important for you, as an educator, to recognize the importance of books in the classroom. When sharing books with young children, there are several factors you should keep in mind.
  1. The Age of the Children – The basic principle to remember is – the younger the child, the shorter the book. For instance, two year old's will sit still for only a very short period of time. Therefore, the books you choose for these children need to be short and simple.
  2. Timing – Reading books is an activity that works best when the children are calm. Many people find that right before nap or early in the morning are good times for reading books. 
  3. Size of the Group – In general, the fewer the children, the easier it will be for them to pay attention and participate. In a smaller group, it is easier for the children to look at the pictures and follow along as you read. In addition, you can ask more questions and elicit more involvement.
  4. Book Selection – Always read any book you are going to share with the children ahead of time. That way you can prepare questions and activities that relate to the book. Also, it will help you to analyze whether the book is appropriate for your group. Ask yourself questions such as, “Is the vocabulary appropriate?,” “Are the illustrations eye-catching?” or, “Is the book entertaining?”
Finally, when presenting any type of language activity, be sure that you always model appropriate language. Speak clearly, slowly, and use expression. Remember – children imitate everything!
Summary

Language development is one of the most important skills learned during a child’s early years. Children need time to work with language through activities that encourage speaking, reading, writing, and listening. As you begin to explore the realm of language development, keep in mind that young children of the same chronological age are often on many different developmental levels. As an educator, it is up to you to observe each child carefully to see how you can adapt daily activities to meet his/her individual needs.