School Readiness Tip: Help Children See Other People’s Perspectives
June 02, 2025
Talking about how others think and feel helps children understand and appreciate different viewpoints, develop empathy, and relate to others. You can encourage children to think about how others might think by using these fun tips.
School Readiness Tip: Talk About What Could Happen Next
May 13, 2025
Young children generally find it easy to talk about what is happening in the here and now. However, they need help talking about the future because this requires a more abstract use of language. You can help children talk about the future, which includes making predictions, during everyday activities and conversations.
School Readiness Tip: Help Children Use Language to Think and Learn
April 09, 2025
Children need to develop the ability to use language for thinking and learning. You can help by having discussions with them that include thought-provoking questions and explanations. Interactions like these encourage children to analyze, reflect and make connections. Here are some playful ways to get children involved in these more complex conversations.
School Readiness Tip: Make Storytelling Part of Your Day
March 05, 2025
Telling stories is a natural part of everyday conversations, and also helps children to understand written stories once they learn to read. At first, children may share events out of order or miss important details. You can help by retelling past events together, talking about stories in books, and making up new stories. Here are some ways to encourage storytelling.
Call Waiting? Smartphones Affect Children’s Language Development
February 20, 2025
During a busy day, it’s natural to turn to your smartphone. But new research suggests that small changes in how and when you use your phone may have a big effect on your child’s opportunities for language learning.
School Readiness Tip: Expose Children to Rare and Unusual Vocabulary
February 13, 2025
When you expose children to more advanced vocabulary in your day-to-day conversations, you prepare them to learn subjects like science, history and geography. Here are some fun ways to include unusual words throughout your day.
How Do Language Skills Support Children’s Mental Health?
January 17, 2025
When you think about the benefits of strong early language skills, you might think about school success, social benefits or literacy learning. But did you know that language skills also support your child’s mental health? Learn more about the specific kinds of language you can help your child learn to support their emotional regulation and mental well-being.
School Readiness Tip: Build Children's Everyday Vocabulary
January 15, 2025
Children’s vocabulary grows when they participate in conversations and hear new words. To help a child understand a new word, use strategies to highlight the word – e.g., say the word a bit slower and louder, pair it with a gesture and explain what it means. Here are some fun things to try in everyday situations.
School Readiness Tip: Expand the Child's Message
December 18, 2024
Help build children’s language by adding words and ideas to what they say. When you respond to what a child says by making their sentence more complete, or by adding a new idea, you model more advanced language that they can learn from. Here are some fun things to try.