How do children learn new words and use them correctly? Yes,
you got it, from us, the adults; and their peers. But, children can watch and
listen to adults on the television and on DVD’s etc. is that just as good? The
answer is NO! Children need the response
of others to help guide their learning of language and communication.
I was really interested to read the following link the other
day:
Detailing a new study by
researchers at the University of Washington, Temple University, and the
University of Delaware, appears in the journal Child Development; and
they have questioned why learning from video has proven to be more difficult for children
to learn words. They have found that
it's the responsiveness of the interactions that's key: ‘When we respond to
children in timely and meaningful ways, they learn -- even when that response
comes from a screen.’ i.e. skype.
This also supports my previous
blog regarding the fact that mobile phones can be a barrier to successful and
effective communication.
It is so important to let
children know that their attempts at communication are valued and important! To
do that, all you need to do is listen attentively, and respond to what they
said. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go into elaborate detail of
what paint and brush they used to paint their picture in nursery, nor should
you just give an uninterested response of ‘that’s nice dear’ etc. Get down on
their level, give them plenty of eye contact, use facial expressions and
gestures, intonate your voice etc. None of which is rocket science but, it will
have wonderful effects on your child’s self-esteem.
As Libby
Hill has mentioned previously, Hanen have a great term called 'owling' and we
all need to do more of this:
- Observe
- Wait
- Listen
So, take a
step back and see every day activities as an opportunity to listen to your
child and respond to their communication attempts. You are your child’s ‘model’
of communication!
Georgina White
