Role of Parents in the Language Development of Their Children

Parental support of early language development is critical during a child's formative years, as this is the optimum time for language learning. Effective speaking and listening skills help ensure a secure basis for future learning. Moreover, a child's earliest experience of language occurs with those closest to him, which is usually immediate family. A 2009 study in the journal "Pediatrics" found that regular conversation between parent and child had a more positive effect on future language scores.

Definition

Children's language development is the progression of skills made by children, from birth onwards, in the areas of communication and speech. It refers to non-vocal skills, (e.g. body language) and vocal skills. A newborn baby may not yet be able to speak, but he quickly learns to communicate needs and feelings, in both non-vocal and vocal ways, such as through eye contact, facial expressions and cries.

Baby Talk

Opportunities for parents to help develop language skills begins when parents "bond" with their newborn and respond to the baby's communication of needs and feelings. This nurturing response, which includes talking, singing and giving cuddles and smiles, helps the baby feel secure. Secure babies soon start to respond back, first with coos and smiles, then chuckles and sounds, (e.g. "bababa"), and eventually first words. With the support of their parents, babies begin to learn the "art of conversation." Parents "converse" with the baby, meaning the baby responds back, and speech as a communication process is established.

First Words

Parents who communicate regularly with their babies, through play and everyday activities, help them understand the meanings of words and phrases long before they utter their first word. According to Shelley Gray, of the Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona University, children rapidly acquire new vocabulary during their early years at the rate of about 10-20 words per day. A parent's role in supporting language development is to patiently encourage these efforts.

Language and Literacy

Children who speak clearly and listen attentively are well-prepared for learning in all areas of the school curriculum. Parents who read with their children also aid in the development of language and pre-reading skills.

Children not only learn new vocabulary, but also the awareness that print carries meaning. As well as sharing books, there are also many everyday opportunities for parents to support their children's language development when they are out and about together, such as pointing out and reading signs in the street, or labels in shops and supermarkets.

Expert Insight

Some experts believe that too much television has a negative impact on children's language development and that it is the role of parents to limit the amount of television their children watch. Research by Dimitri A. Christakis, MD, MPH, director of the Center for Child Health Behavior and Development at Seattle Children's Research Institute, found that, "when the television is on, there is reduced speech in the home. Infants vocalize less, and their caregivers also speak to them more infrequently." The recommendations made by Dr. Christakis include no TV at all for children younger than two years old, and, for older children, limiting TV time to two hours per day; watching the program with children, and talking about it with them.

References

• Science Daily.com: Conversing Helps Language Development More Than Reading Alone
• Education.com: The Role of Parents in Promoting Language Development
• Science Daily: Young Children's Exposure to Audible Television Has Implications For Language Acquisition and Brain Development"

Resources

• It Takes Two to Talk: A Parents' Guide to Helping Children Communicate; Ayala Manolson; 1985