As toddlers learn to express themselves, each word represents a new milestone. Supporting their speech development is critical, especially in the early years when they learn language quickly. Of course, each child develops differently in a distinct timeframe. Some little ones are early babblers, while others express themselves verbally a bit later on.
Speech is more than just talking; it is a tool for expressing emotions, exploring curiosity, and engaging with the environment. Communication skills are essential for children’s overall development. The ability to speak, understand speech sounds, interpret what others say, express ideas, and interact with their surroundings are crucial foundational skills for a child’s success. You’re not alone if you are concerned about your child’s speech development.
An early years foundation stage (EYFS) nursery in Dubai can provide structured training to your child, but here are some strategies through which you can help your children develop their speech.
1. Use Music & Nursery Rhymes
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
And on that farm, he had a pig, E-I-E-I-O…..
As fun as it sounds, toddlers react enthusiastically to rhythm and music. It is helpful to sing nursery rhymes, listen to music, or even make up their own entertaining songs using repeating words. Nursery rhymes encourage children to memorise words and sentences. Also, it is an excellent way to enhance their communication abilities. It boosts children’s speech and pronunciation and introduces them to new terms, which helps them expand their vocabulary. Children learn linguistic patterns through music, which lays the groundwork for proper pronunciation and sentence construction.
2. Read With Your Child
Reading to your kid is one of the most effective methods for speech development. Choose books with colourful graphics, rhyming sentences, and repeating phrases to keep children involved. While reading, point to images and ask questions such as, “What sound does this animal make?” This grasps their attention and motivates them to replicate noises. EYFS Nursery in Dubai makes reading time a primary activity, exposing children to new languages and stories.
3. Let Children Finish Your Sentences
You don’t want to finish your child’s sentences, but you may let them finish your own. The concept of “cloze statements” is simply to let children complete the sentence the other person is stating. In this strategy, you have to choose a familiar sentence, music, or rhyme and then pause and wait before saying the last word, giving your child a chance to fill it in. For instance, saying,
“Five little monkeys jumping on the…”
“One fell off and bumped his…”
“Mama called the doctor, and the doctor said…”
4. Encourage Social Interaction
Children learn language naturally by exposure: when they hear it, they can grasp it better. They also learn more when they hear information from numerous sources since it gives them a thorough understanding of what something means from diverse perspectives. This means that children will pick up diverse dialects from people in the nursery, which will help them develop their language skills. An early years foundation stage (EYFS) nursery in Dubai provides a safe and interactive environment where children can learn and explore languages at their own pace.
5. Narrate Your Daily Activities
Talking to your child may help them develop language earlier, and it’s easier than you would expect. The more regularly you converse with your child, the more they will grasp language. Tell them about your day, or discuss anything else that comes to mind. Use basic language and brief phrases. While it’s charming when children use improper language or baby speak, leave it to them and avoid using baby talk yourself. Don’t feel obligated to correct them; simply answer with the appropriate term.
Language development for children is best encouraged in a joyful and rich language environment consisting of tales, songs, rhymes, signs, discourse, and creative play, all of which are fully covered in Yellow Kite Nursery’s daily activities.
Based on the EYFS principles, Yellow Kite Nursery provides a caring and comfortable atmosphere where children get holistic education and care, assuring their safety, happiness, and well-being. Being the best EYFS nursery in Dubai, our framework portrays our educational approaches, promoting holistic development and equipping our students with the knowledge and abilities they will need for their future schooling.
By adopting the EYFS, we acknowledge each child’s inherent curiosity and learning potential, guiding them to explore and discover the path that sets a solid basis for their lifelong learning journey. We believe that the most important skill for children to learn is communicating with one another. We strive to ensure that every child who enters our doors develops effective communication skills.
Let your child’s Speech blossom at Yellow Kite Nursery!