Silkysteps early years forum - planning ideas for play

2.2-Explain the relevant positive effects of adult support for the children and their careers.
Having adult support can have an impact on the child’s overall emotional development and wellbeing. They become much more self-confident and in turn sociable meaning that they can make and maintain friendships easier. Being more confident in school and early learning settings allows them to feel more secure and comfortable and therefor will be more likely to perform well. Improvements in children’s speech and language is also likely to improve including extending vocabulary and being able to understand and follow conversations and being able to communicate their needs easier. Children who can communicate effectively will get less frustrated and be less likely to act out and have behaviour problems.
(I feel I have covered some of this in 1.2, 1.3 and 2.1)

2.1- Explain the ways in which adults can effectively support and extend the speech, language and communication development of children during the early years.
The biggest thing an adult can do to help develop a child’s speech and language skills is to interact with them and to communicate with them as much as possible. As early as new-born, babies should be spoken to and be given a running commentary about what is happening every day. For example ‘we are going for a bath now, you like your bath don’t you, and you can splash in the bath’. This repetiviness of key words is what they will pick up on and eventually repeat back to you.
Adults can also use simple language to talk to children. Saying single words or short phrases when your child points or plays with something like car, apple, big, hot or my turn. This will make learning and understanding language easier. We can also use modelling language which helps support children when words don’t sound clear. This includes giving them praise for trying then saying the word back to them, so if the child says ‘tar’ we can smile and say ‘ yes, car, clever girl’. We must also be aware that we need to give young children sufficient time to respond when we are talking to them, this includes waiting for smiles and giggles etc. from those that are too young to talk and pointing to objects as we say them.
Interacting can also be playing games, reading and singing songs. Getting children engaged in books from an early age can help with reading and writing skills and can extend their language skills and vocabulary. Singing simple songs and nursery rhymes develops children’s attention and listening skills and their awareness of rhyme, Rhythm and the word patterns. There is research linking children that can read and write early to those who remember nursery rhymes.
Play and activity encourage children to communicate and practise their communication skills as they will need to communicate with their playmates and others so it creates a situation where they can practise and develop their language skills.