Tips: Early Child Literacy & Language Development

Tips for early child literacy and language development vary by your child's age and stage. Some children are consistenet or 'typical' developers; others start somewhat typically, but can alter their course by age 2 years or so. See www.firstsigns.org for in depth discussion of the need to observe for reversals of language and communication development.
These tips are helpful for typical (and several variations on typical) development.

In your child's first year: read a simple picture book to them daily; be sure to cuddle and lap-read since loving touch is so important for thriving; when animals appear in the book teach your baby to make the animal sounds; while making eye contact, imitate the sounds that your baby makes; talk describing what you're doing to your baby if you are within visual range of each other; play peek-a-boo and other games involving your baby's senses; if your baby does not seem to respond to you, have their hearing checked.

Babies love to mimic sounds and their sense of language is encouraged when you mimic their sounds. All of this interaction is only possible if their hearing and vision are functioning properly. When in doubt, have it checked out.

After their first birthday: naming objects in their day and naming objects represented as pictures in their books is important. They start to get it when you consistently call an object by the same name. Pointing at their nose, ears, mouth etc, and pointing to your same body parts is important. Also extend that by pointing at all the noses, ears and mouths represented in picture books. They are able to begin understanding the meaning of the sounds you consistently repeat through the day. Help them point to picture parts you are describing and they will start pointing themselves, as you read the same books to them each day. They thrive on repetition.
At this point, its a good time to give your child one simple direction at a time."Show me your nose" -or- "Look at Mommy".

After their second birthday: They will begin to pick up on the idea of simple sentences you say frequently and consistently; favorite books with simple sentences become something they repeat; they start to understand that words (sounds) can be strung together, for specific meanings. "The cat is big"."Touch your nose", "I'll change your diaper now." "Food is coming." Gradually they get the meanings and learn to say the words at the appropriate times. "The ball is big"
Labeling things in their everyday life is helpful, when you say the label each time. They still may be relying on verbal cues, more than the actual printed letters, but this starts a process of print recognition. Labeling pictures of loved ones, and saying the names is helpful. Remember they love to hear you sing simple songs.
Tomorrow we talk about after their third and fourth birthdays.