Charlton, J

Dockrell, J

Forrest, C

Law, J

Mathers, S

English

UCL Discovery

Julie Dockrell1, James Law2, Sandra Mathers3, Claire Forrest1, Jenna Charlton,2   1UCL Institute of Education, 2Newcastle University, 3University of OxfordTalking With  Your ChildrenActivities For Parents to Help Nursery  Children’s Speaking and Listening SkillsContentsIntroduction            3How to support children’s language       5Using books, toys and electronics to support language    7Conversations during your daily routine       9Conversations during a shopping trip       10Conversations with books         11Conversations with toys & games        12Conversations during pretend play       13Conversations about emotions        14If you would like to find out more about supporting  your child’s oral language check out these resources/links:   15Acknowledgements          16How to use this booklet:Pages 5-8: Key things to remember when speaking with your childPages 9-13: Ideas and phrases for different activities You can print out the pages, share with others in your family or stick them on the fridge or somewhere you will see them.Green section  Conversations during  outdoor activities.Blue section  Conversations during  indoor activities.Yellow section  Conversations during  creative play.Purple section  Conversations  about emotions.Who is this booklet for?We have put together this booklet to help parents/carers to support their nursery-aged children with speaking and listening. Speaking and listening are key skills for learning. This booklet contains examples of activities to do with your child to support their speaking and listening. IntroductionWho are we?We are researchers, practitioners and parents who want to help give children the best start in life by supporting their ability to communicate and interact with parents/carers, peers and teachers. You can find out more here.3What is oral language?Oral language means the words  that we say and hear when talking  with other people. Children need to use words and sentences to communicate with others. They also need good oral language skills to understand what others are saying. Both speaking and listening are involved in oral language.Why is oral language so important?Oral language helps children at school with reading and writing. Oral language also helps children play and make friends. Children who struggle with speaking or listening may find school more difficult. They may also have trouble talking about their feelings or things that happened. These difficulties are challenging for children, parents and teachers. What can parents do to help?Children learn their words and how to make sentences by talking with others. Children need to practice these skills so the more conversations you have with children, the more their speaking and listening skills grow! It is language nutrition.There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to have a conversation with your child – enjoy it and have fun!Different languages are equally important so speak with your child in the  language you are  comfortable with4How to support children’s languageSpecial Time• 5-10 minutes• 3 or 4 times a week• Quiet, uninterrupted time with no distractions• Give your child a choice of game/activity to play• Get down on your child’s level• Use eye contact•  Make sure you can see each  other’s facial expressionsMake time to speak with your  child and listen to what they sayYou could say…• “How will we get to the park?”• “Where will we go today?”• “Who are we going to see today?”• “How are these the same?”• “How are these different?” • “What did you do at nursery?”• “What shall we play with?”• “What do you think about…?”Questions that need more than  one-word answers are very importantAsk questionsabout what your child thinks5Give your child extra words.  Try to describe things in different ways.You could say…•  If your child says “Big tower” You could say  “Yes, your tower is big! It’s a tall tower. It’s very high.”• If your child says “Tower fall” You could say   “Oh no, the tower fell down! It tumbled to the ground”Build on what your child saysPracticing rhyming and letter sounds help children with reading skills. Repeating things helps children remember.You could say…• “What can you see that begins with the letter…”• “Can you find something else that sounds like…”Name feelings and actions  – say what you seeYou could say…•  “I’m stirring the pot. I’m mixing the food  together. That means it won’t stick.”• “You’re so excited to see your friends!”Describe what you and your child are doingUse rhyme and repetition6Using books, toys and electronics  to support languageUse picture booksYou could say…• “What is she thinking? Why do you think that?”• “How do they feel? How do you know?”• “What do you think will happen next?”Point to the pictures and ask your child questions You could say…• “Once upon a time…and then…next…”•  Take turns to say a line, adding  new characters and actions each timeMaking up stories helps children  practice using words and sentencesUse toys7You could say…• “Teddy wants to read the story tonight!”• Use different voices for different characters•  Use your voice in different ways to tell the  story in a fun way •  Read a line from the story and pause before  the last word. Your child can finish the sentence.Acting out stories can  make them more fun and  interesting for children. It helps them to learn and remember words.You could say…• “How do they know where to go?”• “I wonder what will happen next…?”• “What do you think you would do?” Use apps together and talk about  what you saw on the tablet or TVUse puppets or toys to act out storiesTablets, phones and tv can help with language too!8Conversations during  your daily routineBlue section  Conversations during  indoor activities.How to do it: Describe what you and  your child are doing, using different words:•  “You’re putting on your socks.  You’re pulling them up.”•  “I’m putting away the plates.  I’m stacking them in the cupboard”More talking: Getting ready for school:•  “First you put on your socks, then you put  on your shoes”• “What games do you think you will play today?”During dinner or bedtime:• “What was a good thing that happened today?”• “Who did you play with today? What did you do?”Even MORE talking: Introduce new words and explain what  they meanTry baking or cooking with your child. Lots of new words can be learned along with actions to help them remembere.g.cutting/chopping/slicing; mixing/stirring/blending; beating/whiskingWhat you will need: Nothing! Just your words.9Conversations during a shopping trip Green section  Conversations during  outdoor activities.How to do it: Use gestures as well as words:•  Hold up 3 fingers when saying “We need three onions”•  Spread your hands wide when describing  the big bag of potatoesMore talking: Try to use as many  describing words as possible:• “These tomatoes look really delicious”• “This juice will be so refreshing”Ask questions about what your child thinks:• “What do you think we could make with…?”• “Who else do you know who likes chocolate?”• “How many apples are in the bag?”Even MORE talking: Introduce  new words and explain what  they mean Play word games on the way to school or while waiting in line.•  “I spy with my little eye something beginning with the letter C…”•  “I’m going on holiday and in my suitcase I packed…” Take it in turns to name items for each letter of the alphabet e.g. “…an apple.” “…an apple and a book.” “…an apple, a book and a camera.”•  “How many green/blue/round things can you find?” Help your child name all the different objectsWhat you will need: Nothing! Just your words.10What you will need: Books with detailed pictures (like Bee and Me by Alison Jay) or with new and interesting words Conversations with books Blue section  Conversations during  indoor activities.How to do it: Show your child the front  cover and ask:• “What do you think this story is about?” Point to pictures and ask your child:• “What’s this?” Give options to help your child respond:• “Is he feeling happy or sad?”More talking: Point to pictures and ask questions that have more than one-word answers:• What can you see?”• “What do you think that is used for?”• “Where are they going?”Explain words using examples that your  child will understand:• “It’s a clock just like granny has in her house” •  “He has to pedal really fast because he is  late for school”Even MORE talking: Ask questions about the future:•  “What do you think will happen next? Why do you think that?”Ask questions about how others are feeling:•  “How is he feeling?...Why do you think he’s excited?”Try to link the story to your child’s experiences:•  “Can you remember when we went to the park? What did we see?” •  “Do you like playing in puddles?  How does it feel?”11Conversations with toys & games Yellow section  Conversations during  creative play.What you will need: A ball and some objects to roll (and some space to play)/Play-doh or paints – whatever your child enjoys most!How to do it: Take turns to roll the  ball to each other:• “Wait…Ready?…Go!”Let your child draw what they like  and comment on it• “That is a very colourful/bright picture!”More talking: Rolling: Roll the ball and  some other objects (e.g. toy car, pencil,  teddy bear) and compare:• “Which one is faster?” “Which one is slower?”• “What makes it faster/slower?”• “What are some other things that are fast?”Painting/drawing: Have a piece of paper each. Ask your child to copy you using different descriptive words:• “Draw a large circle, like this”• “Draw a tiny square, like this”• “Draw a long rectangle, like this”Even MORE talking: Use more complex words:•  “You’re waiting for your turn. You’re being so patient”•  “You’re listening carefully to the instructions”12Conversations during pretend play Green section  Conversations during  outdoor activities.What you will need: Some ‘treasure’ to find, a map to follow – or just your words and imagination!How to do it: Hide some ‘treasure’  and draw a map with clues.  Describe what your child is doing:•  “Let’s pretend we’re on a boat searching  for buried treasure”• “Wow, you’re a scary pirate!”•  “You’re looking for treasure! We have to  search for the treasure”More talking: Ask open-ended questions and follow your child’s lead• “Where do you think we should we go?”•  “What do you think we will see in the water?” Help your child to name different sea creaturesEven MORE talking: Ask open-ended questions:• “Who hid the treasure?”• “Why do you think they hid it?” •  “What would you buy with lots of treasure?”Introduce as many descriptive words as possible and explain what they mean:•  “We have to sail across the choppy seas in our boat. The water is really choppy because there are so many waves!”•  “They hid the treasure because they didn’t want anyone to find it. The treasure is valuable, it meant a lot to them. It was worth a lot of money.”13Conversations about emotionsWhat you will need: Pictures of different facial expressions – or just your words!How to do it: Label your child’s feelings and actions:• “You’re so happy to see your friends!”• “You’re sad because we’re not going to the park” Show your child pictures of different  facial expressions• Name each of the feelings•  Ask your child to point to the picture that best describes their dayMore talking: Point out other people’s expressions & feelings:• “He’s smiling so big! He’s really excited”• “How is she feeling? How do you know?”Play “Guess my feeling”:•  Make a facial expression and ask your child  to guess what you’re feeling•  Ask your child to make a facial expression  and guess what they’re feeling• Think of different reasons for different feelingse.g. “I’m happy when I ride my bike”,  “I’m sad when I don’t have anyone  to play with”Purple section  Conversations  about emotions.14Even MORE talking: Try to be specific when naming emotions: e.g. happy/excited/nervous, mad/angry/frustrated, sad/upset/scared Try to explain what you are feeling and why:•  “I’m feeling frustrated because I can’t find what I’m looking for.” Tell your child how you are dealing with your emotions:•  “I’m going to take some deep breaths. This will help me calm down.”•  “I’m going to think of something happy.  This will help me feel less afraid.”If you would like to find out more about supporting your child’s oral language check out these resources/links:Free downloads to help your child to talk from Afasic - specialist charityIdeas, activities and apps for children aged 0-5 from the Department for EducationShort video clips of ideas for reading and activities from BBC’s Tiny Happy Peoplewww.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/4-to-5-year-old-child-development-activitieshungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.ukafasic.org.uk/resources/free-downloads/schools-and-learning/15AcknowledgementsThis booklet was supported by the Nuffield Foundation, as part of the project “Empowering staff to enhance oral language in the early years.”We thank the following people for their expertise and feedback at each stage of the project:For enquiries, please contact Professor Julie Dockrell: j.dockrell@ucl.ac.ukGill BrackenburyTerry BennettKeeley DobinsonCarolyn GelenterJulian GrenierJean GrossKhusheda HussenEleanor IrelandJevin IslamWendy LeeGeoff LindsayNoore RahmanClare Williams16

Talking With Your Children: Activities For Parents to Help Nursery Children's Speaking and Listening Skills

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Talking With Your Children: Activities For Parents to Help Nursery Children's Speaking and Listening Skills

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