Play the video to see examples of how children are learning language for ages 36 months (3 years) to 48 months (4 years) followed by a group discussion by parents. Listening and Speaking

Children learn language by listening, talking, practicing new words, and being listened to and responded to. Children learn words when you use new words with them. Families have many, many everyday opportunities to help children learn language.

In the car, at the store, on a walk, at home doing chores, while a child is playing, during meals, and at bedtime.

Talk about:

• what you are seeing,

• what they are doing,

• what you are doing,

• what you did together earlier, or

• what you are going to do later.

Add a few new descriptive words when you are talking to children. One of the ways we naturally build vocabulary with children is by introducing new words along with the familiar ones they already know and with visual clues so they can more easily understand the new words.

“There is a dog.”

“There is a big, bouncy dog.”

“There is a big, bouncy, curly-haired dog who is sniffing the rock and wagging its tail.”

Ask them about:

• what they see,

• what they are doing,

• what they are thinking about,

• how they feel,

• what they like,

• what happened earlier, or

• what they think is going to happen.

Ask them follow-up questions. When they tell you something, you can ask for more details. Asking more questions challenges them to think more deeply about what they know and to find words to describe it. Responding to your questions is one way for them to stretch their language muscle.

“Wow, you and Rigo played dragons. What did the dragons do? Tell me more about the dragons. How do you think dragons make that fire that comes out of their mouths?”

“You drew a spaceship? What does your spaceship have inside? What makes your spaceship fly? Where is your spaceship going? Tell me more about your spaceship.”

Ask questions that allow children to create their own answer (avoid questions that have yes or no answers). When we ask children questions that don’t have a “right answer,” they can be more creative and thoughtful in their answer, rather than just trying to figure out what you want them to say.

Here are some examples of questions that might lead to more conversation or less conversation:

“What did you and Liam do today?” (open-ended—more conversation)

“Did you have fun with Liam today?” (yes/no or closed-ended question—less conversation)

“What can you tell me about your friend Lew?” (open-ended—more conversation)

“Do you like Lew?” (yes/no or closed-ended question—less conversation)

Ask questions that you don’t have the answer for already. Asking questions that you don’t have the answer for already communicates to children that you are genuinely interested in their thinking and therefore that their thinking is important.

“What do you notice on this page?” (unknown answer—a good way to support children’s thinking)

“What do you think the dog is going to do?” (unknown answer—a good way to support children’s thinking)

“What color is the dog?” (known answer; less supportive of children’s thinking)

You can invite your child to answer the question they asked you. Children usually have a guess already when they ask you a question. Asking children what they think encourages them to put their thoughts into words and gives them more opportunity to participate in conversation with you.

“That’s an interesting question. How do you think stars get up in the sky?”

Check out the really cute video of a Dad completely engaging his son in conversation (even though we cannot understand what the little guy is actually saying) Listen to children. Children will talk more when they know that you are listening. More talking gives them more practice with language.

You can let them know you are listening by:

• making eye contact,

• allowing quiet space for them to talk or finish what they are saying,

• putting away distractions such as the phone, TV or computer

• creating “talking time” regularly (for example, sitting on the couch together, taking a walk together, snuggling at bedtime),

• repeating or restating what they said to let them know you heard them,

• asking questions, or thanking them for sharing their ideas or stories with you.