suitable solutions to develop your child’s language

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Of course, children must be able to communicate and acquire a minimum of knowledge before preschool. The child must be able to understand most of the things you say to them so that learning at school is not too difficult. You can help them develop their language through simple means. Let’s take stock!

Understanding the development of language in children

It is necessary for every child to acquire certain skills before heading to school. Helping them develop their language should be the parents’ priority. A “good language” between 4 and 5 years means having a vocabulary of 2000 words. Some children at this age have already stored more than that. The child must also have the ability to describe and give the usefulness of objects present in their environment.

At this age, your child should be able to arrange words to make sentences of 5 or 6 words. They are capable of saying complex sentences. They are undoubtedly able to communicate with others. For example, a child who does not have a language disorder, in this age group, will be able to tell a story. The child asks questions and even understands complex notions or instructions.

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The stages of language

Before presenting the main stages of language development in children, it is important to remember that every child is different. These stages are indicative, and each child grows at their own pace. If your child is delayed, do not worry! You can support them with our advice or, if you want to be sure, you can seek an opinion from your pediatrician or a speech therapist.

3-6 months: at this age, the child begins to coo. They use cooing to interact with their environment and with their family. For example, if you make funny faces, they may respond with cooing.
7-10 months: the child begins to babble. This stage is fundamental for language because the child starts to assign meaning to words and associate them with objects or events. It is at this age that the child lays the groundwork for developing their understanding.
12 months: the first words appear. The child still primarily communicates with gestures, but they also start to use words. These words often refer to the family context: mom, dad, yes, no…
16-19 months: the child communicates with what are called “word-phrases.” The child begins to associate two words to express their thoughts or needs. Their vocabulary is 7-20 words.
24 months: the child’s vocabulary expands to 50 words used and 300 understood. Sentences are composed of three words and are therefore more complex.
30 months: from 30 months, we can say that the child has reached language, even if it is still simple. The sentences are nonetheless more complex, and the vocabulary is large. Every day, the child learns new words and uses language better and better.

We present to you a grid created by Bougribouillons with Céline Devillers, founder of Loulilou. We found it great and are sharing it with you here.

How to stimulate language

To stimulate language, it is important to understand its purpose.

Language has a function of interaction and expression.

When they are small, the child uses language to interact with the environment; they coo or babble because their sounds produce an effect in their surroundings. When a child produces a sound, we are led to turn towards them and respond with words or other sounds. In this case, you can play exchange games with the children, like the Cucu game. Or you can make faces and wait for the child’s reaction. Do not occupy all the space in the dialogue, but give the child time to make sounds in response.

Then, the child begins to use language to express their wants or needs. They mainly use words related to their surroundings. It is important to tell the child the name of all objects; you can also use books with pictures and ask the child to find or name specific images.

Finally, the child will use language to interact with others. You can create stories in games, ask the child about their day, or do daily life activities with them.

To stimulate the child’s language, you must make them want to talk. Give them time to express themselves without anticipating their requests or needs, ask them questions, and engage in diverse activities to stimulate their curiosity.

Reading to develop language

The benefits of reading are recognized by education specialists. What is often difficult for parents is to get their children to love reading. You can regularly read stories with your child at home. Think of stories where they face problems to solve. You can also tell jokes to the child. Establishing reading as a routine in their daily life is a good idea. Reading promotes language development and awakens interest in writing.

Faites attention à choisir les livres adaptés à l’âge de l’enfant. Pendant la lecture, posez des questions à l’enfant ou décrivez ensemble les images. Si l’enfant est petit et que vous êtes en train de lire un livre en rime que l’enfant connaît bien, essayez de ne pas dire la dernière syllabe ou le dernier mot pour voir si l’enfant dit le mot manquant.

La lecture est une activité très utile pour les enfants. Elle permet de développer la compréhension, la lecture, le langage, l’imagination et le partage.

Speech therapy to develop language

The speech therapist is the specialist who takes care of and supports children suffering from oral and written communication disorders. If a 3-year-old child is unable to recognize objects, then parents may consider taking their child to a speech therapist. Also visit the speech therapist if the 4-year-old child has difficulty answering questions and repeats them. Or if they make comments that do not make sense. At 5 years old, if they are unable to make complex sentences. Speech therapy has many benefits for children with autism disorders.

Language delay is very common and early intervention can help the child recover their gaps. Sometimes, a language delay can be linked to a developmental disorder. In this case, the follow-up with the speech therapist becomes essential. Speech therapy has many benefits for children with autism disorders

Speech therapists primarily work with children, but the first contact will always be with the parents. Don’t worry, they are professionals used to guiding parents in their approach. They will be there to support you and your children, the main thing is to take the first step.

Games to develop language

Games contribute to education and language development. You can help your child by playing with them. Offer games according to their age. For example, you can opt for sorting objects: you can sort animals together while helping them identify them based on their characteristics. For example, children love to create zoos by putting animals in the right cages.

There are also games to learn to construct sentences. Others allow children to learn about the different parts of the human body. We also have action cards featuring adorable little animals. A game to learn to lengthen sentences can be offered to children aged 3 to 5 years.

You can enjoy all these learning games and many more with the Coco app from Dynseo! A fun way to progress while having fun. Once installed, the Coco app no longer needs the Internet, your child can thrive safely. And for a measured use of screens, the app locks every 15 minutes of play and suggests a physical activity.

Syllables

In this game, the child must create words from the available syllables. This activity allows playing with the sounds of words. Using syllables is also one of the activities offered at school to learn to read and write. The child can therefore practice at home while having fun.

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The Lost Poem

In this game, the child must read a poem and then find the missing words. Coco offers several poems so each time you can use a different story. In the app, there is the possibility to listen to the poem so children can also play it if they have basic reading skills.

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Brainstorming

In this game, the child must arrange the words to construct a sentence. This game is suitable for slightly older children as it requires higher language skills.

Thanks to this game, you improve sentence structuring and thus the ability to create more complex sentences.

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Integrate language into daily routines

Language development does not only occur through targeted activities or educational games. It can and should be naturally integrated into everyday life moments. By establishing simple verbal routines, you provide your child with a language-rich environment conducive to learning.

During bath time

Name each body part while washing them: “I wash your arm,” “Now your leg,” etc.
Comment on the actions: “We rinse the foam,” “We scrub gently.”
Ask questions to stimulate interaction: “What do we do after the soap?”

During meals

Describe the foods: their taste, their color, their texture.
- Example: “The soup is hot”, “The banana is sweet”, “The carrot is crunchy”.
Ask the child what they like or dislike: “Do you prefer apples or pears?”
Invite them to comment on what they are eating: “Is it sweet or salty?”

During free play

Let the child express themselves freely and encourage them to talk about what they are doing.
Rephrase their sentences by slightly enriching them to model more complex language.
- Example: if they say “The dog fell”, you can respond “Yes, the dog fell because it slipped on the floor.”

During household chores

Involve the child in small tasks and verbalize what you are doing together.
- Example: “We are folding the laundry”, “We are putting the socks in this drawer”, “We are rinsing the plates”.
Use specific vocabulary: “fork”, “dustpan”, “dust”, etc.

At bedtime

Talk about the day that has passed: “What did you like today?”, “What made you laugh?”
Read a story and ask questions about the narrative: “Why is the character sad?”, “What will happen next?”
Encourage the child to imagine a continuation or an alternative ending to the story.