PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS TO HELP DEVELOP YOUR

CHILD’S ORAL LANGUAGE SKILLS

Junior Classes:

Try to avail of everyday opportunities such as a trip to the shop to help develop your child’s language skills, examples include:
-showing the children the different fruit and vegetables and using their correct names
-counting various items
-noting the colour and shapes of different goods
A simple journey in the car can be used to teach children the meaning of simple road signs. It can also be a time to observe and chat about local buildings/landmarks etc. in their environment
When children are playing, it is an ideal time to interact with them. Ask them questions about what they are doing, suggest possibilities and explore different ideas with them.
Encourage your daughter(s) to describe objects in terms of their characteristics: colour/shape/size etc.
Help children to learn about opposites through interacting with real materials; hot/cold, wet/dry etc.
Encourage your child to use the correct vocabulary and to try and avoid the use of baby language.
The girls should be encouraged to question things by using the correct words; why/when/who/where/what etc.
Stories alone provide a whole host of opportunities for learning. Reading the story is only one possibility. Other ideas include;
-discussing the title, the illustrations etc. before commencement of reading the book
-allow children to predict what might happen
-encourage them to retell the story in their own words,
-describe different characters, recall particular phrases etc.
-elicit their reactions through questioning; who was in the story?, what happened?, what was the funniest/saddest part?
Nursery rhymes should also be used frequently as a means of helping children to identify the words that rhyme, to perform accompanying actions etc.

Oral Language in the Senior Classes:

Encourage your children to watch the news, read the newspaper, listen to radio programmes etc. and allow them to express their personal opinions in regard to topical issues.
Chat to your daughter(s) about those things which they feel are important in their lives i.e. their favourite pop-group, television programme etc.
The children should be continuously encouraged to use alternative vocabulary when describing things rather than merely using the same words constantly.
It is very important to stress the significance of reading to the girls and also for you to continue reading aloud to them. This can provide wonderful opportunities for oral language and also for some ‘quality time’.
Take your children to visit the local library and encourage them to become members. Highlight all the services, which are provided e.g. access to computers, involvement in reading clubs etc.