Developing Oral Language with your child

Top Ten Tips for Parents/Guardians

Infants to First Class

  • Listen to what your child is saying /trying to say and respond to contributions.
  • Make and maintain eye contact while talking with your child. He also needs to maintain eye contact when speaking to you.
  • Explain the meaning of words.
  • Talk through activities.
  • Talk through everyday experiences.
  • Involve your child in discussions / plans.
  • Ask / Answer questions.
  • Teach your child nursery rhymes /songs / poems/ raps.
  • Develop your child’s receptive language by asking him/her to follow simple instructions.
  • Assist your child to express ideas in an orderly fluent way.
  • Read to your child each night.

 Second Class to Fourth Class

  • Set aside 10-15 minutes to discuss the day’s happenings.
  • Encourage your child to express and justify opinions.
  • Involve your child in adult conversation when appropriate.
  • Talk about the child’s favourite T.V programme.
  • Play language games which focus on words i.e. Scrabble, crosswords.
  • Encourage your child to talk about experiences with a wide range of people, peers, relations and other adults.
  • Listen carefully and clarify meaning, ‘Do you mean/or is this what you mean?’
  • Encourage your child to give reasons for decisions.
  • Encourage your child to listen courteously to the opinions of others.
  • Talk about school topics and assignments.

 Fifth and Sixth Class

  • Encourage your child to develop a positive attitude to speaking / listening.
  • Discuss your child’s school work successes/concerns/interests.
  • Respect your child’s opinions and feelings.
  • Involve your child in adult conversations.
  • When appropriate, help your child to extend his range of words in specialised subjects.
  • Encourage your child to listen and respond courteously to others.
  • Watch and discuss T.V. news / current affairs programmes together.
  • Assist your child to locate information in local library and internet.
  • Talk about school topics and assignments.
  • Play commercial games that focus on word building.