How Your Child Learns Language

• Children learn by doing, not by passive observance
• Children learn by asking questions and by searching for answers to their questions
• Children learn by discovery
• Children learn by using all their senses when possible
• Children learn by experimenting
• Children learn by sorting and combining objects
• Children learn by repeating experiences
• Children learn by building confidence in themselves

Guidelines For Encouraging Language Development

• Continue to show your pleasure at your child's development in speech, language and thought.
• Do not expect absolute perfection in the way he/she pronounces words.
• Encourage your child to talk and engage in meaningful conversation.  This is done by helping your child feel accepted and comfortable as they speak versus correcting improper grammar.
• Provide a correct model for your child.  If he/she says, "car no go" you can say "The car won't go."  This does not penalize him/her for the error and it gives the correct model to use.
• Provide many language models by talking about what you are doing, describing objects and events, and discussing what will be happening next.
• Extend your child's sentences.  "Hot" might by followed by your comment "Yes, the stove must be very hot so it can cook our food."
• Give specific directions and speak directly to the child, maintaining eye contact while speaking.
• Be very verbal around your child.
• Talk about the things you are doing as you do them, emphasizing vocabulary and basic concepts, such as "in", "on" and "under".