Now I’m not saying that simply knowing the words in a textbook means I know the subject the textbook is written on. But think of it this way- if a toddler KNOWS the words, “street” “car” “safe”; they can better understand the direction, “Danger! DO NOT GO NEAR THE STREET!” and later “Look both ways before you cross the street”. Know the words, know the subject.
Language development can grow based on a child’s experience with language through “language opportunities”. These opportunities are everywhere in their life (the playground, Daycare, play dates, and any moment spent with you)! The key to language opportunities is not scheduling them but recognizing that they naturally occur constantly, like anytime you:
READ with your child: reading books aloud (and not shying away from books that include words that are more than one or two syllables… sure they may not know them UNTIL you teach them). Every picture book flipped through or read provides opportunities for hearing new, UNIQUE words.
SPEAK to your child: Use words that are more than one or two syllables in conversations with our babies/toddlers, engage in FULL conversation with babies. They are sponges! Recently my friend said, “We only get dumber as we get older”… unfortunately it’s true, children are able to learn and retain at an extremely high level. Never assume that because your infant doesn’t have the mouth muscle, they don’t have the brain power!
INTERACT with words with your child: Specifically with language; point out objects and name them, define words, play with words: sing songs and recite rhymes, etc. Interacting with words and language takes it from the abstract of seeing the letters in a book and cements it into their memory; creating and building their own vocabulary bank.
