"I want to naturally support my child's language development, but I don't know how..."
"I want to know language learning methods that parents and children can enjoy together while playing!"
Many people probably have such concerns, don't they?
A child's language development is greatly influenced by communication with adults around them. By providing appropriate stimulation, a child's linguistic ability can be developed.
This time, we will explain the stages of children's language development and introduce play ideas for nurturing language while having fun!
Let's gently support your child's language development with methods that are easy to incorporate into daily life.
Stages of Children's Language Development
Language development progresses gradually with age. Knowing the characteristics of each stage allows for appropriate support tailored to the child's growth.
Around 0-1 year old: From babbling to single words
During this period, babies begin to build the foundation of language.
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Babbling such as "ah-ah" and "mam-ma" begins. This is a sign that the baby is practicing making sounds.
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Around 10 months of age, they start speaking meaningful single words. They begin to learn the names of familiar things, such as "mam-ma (food)" and "boo-boo (car)."
At this stage, it is important to actively respond to the baby's vocalizations and enjoy interacting with them. Even if they don't understand words, the primary thing is for a nearby adult to react with "What is it?" or "That's right!" when the baby makes a sound!
1 to 2 years old: Increase in single words and emergence of two-word sentences
This is a period of rapid language acquisition.
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A phenomenon called "vocabulary spurt" occurs, and the number of words learned increases rapidly.
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They start connecting two words, such as "bow-wow came" (the dog came).
During this period, listening to your child's words and actively communicating is a chance to teach them new words. In daily life, express the names of objects and actions with words.
2 to 3 years old: Able to form sentences and ask more questions
This is an important period when they can convey their intentions using language.
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They become able to speak short sentences such as "I want a toy" or "It's delicious."
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Their curiosity increases, and they ask more questions like "What?" and "Why?".
By patiently answering your child's questions, you can help them expand their vocabulary and deepen their understanding of the world.
3 years old and up: Able to hold conversations with complex expressions
This is a period when communication skills using language greatly improve.
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They become able to understand what others say and engage in back-and-forth conversations.
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They become able to use conjunctions like "~but" and "~because," and more complex expressions.
At this stage, it is important to enjoy conversations with your child and engage in deeper discussions. You can further develop their expressive power by co-creating stories or discussing daily events in detail.
Recommended communication games by age
For ages 0 to 1 year old: The period for planting language seeds
Reading picture books
Try to set aside some time to enjoy picture books with your baby. Point to the pictures and gently say things like, "It's a doggie," or "What a pretty flower." It's also OK to read the same picture book repeatedly. Babies love repetition. You might also try varying the intonation of your voice when reading picture books.
Children's songs
This is a play activity that combines rhythm, words, and body movements. Start with simple songs like "Peek-a-boo" or "Otsumu Tenten." Singing while gently moving your baby's hands and feet will stimulate their senses and make it more enjoyable. As you repeat, your baby will likely start moving their body and making sounds too.
Ages 1-2: When words begin to blossom
Pretend play
Capitalize on this imaginative period to help your child learn words through play.
・Enjoying conversations like "Irasshaimase" (Welcome) and "Can I have a (○○) please?" when playing shop.
This game helps children learn that things around them have names. Tell them the names of things you find while out for a walk. Even just pointing out things you see, like "That's a train" or "What a beautiful flower," can be effective. At home, it's also fun to ask "What is this?" in a quiz format to teach them names of objects.
Ages 2-3: When children learn the joy of expressing themselves with words
Shiritori (word chain game)
This game helps increase your child's vocabulary while enjoying the sounds of words. It's recommended to start by listing many words that begin with "A." You can also make it fun by using picture cards for visual enjoyment. It's okay if they make mistakes until they get used to it. The important thing is to have fun playing and get familiar with words together.
Storytelling
This activity allows children to experience the joy of weaving words together while expanding their imagination. Start with an opening line like "Once upon a time, there was an old man and an old woman" and continue the story together with your child.
It's also fun to expand on a scene from a picture book and create a new story. Creating a story in a relay format where parent and child take turns adding one sentence can lead to exciting and unexpected plot twists.
Ages 3 and up: When children expand their world with words
Quiz game
This game develops both thinking and expression skills. Choose a theme like "animal quiz" or "food quiz" and take turns asking questions. Once they get used to it, a "adjective quiz" asking "What is a red, round, sweet fruit?" can be very engaging. Have your child create quizzes as well; it's great language practice.
Role-reversal game
By playing pretend and taking on various roles, children can expand their range of expression. Try playing roles such as teacher and student, doctor and patient, or shopkeeper and customer.
It's also fun to play a game where you think about what you would say if you were "○○." Role-playing as characters from picture books or animations is also a great opportunity to learn new expressions.
Summary
How was that? Try playing word games happily with your child while communicating with them!
※While there are age-based guidelines for language development, as introduced in this article, the pace of development varies from child to child. Even if your child doesn't fit the age guidelines, don't worry excessively; instead, enjoy communicating with them and watch over their development. If you are particularly concerned, consult your pediatrician or a local parenting support center.