May Nanny Training Recap

Last Sunday, Anna and I presented on one of our favorite topics - language development! Nannies who attended learned new ways to support children’s language development in fun, playful ways. 

We discussed activities, games, and playful interactions that encourage requesting, labeling, responding, and conversing at various developmental levels between ages 0-48 months.

One of the most impactful ways to encourage early language development is with requesting. It’s the most fun, and the most valuable to a child’s development, because the child wants something, and you get to give it to them. They already have the motivation that will help them learn to use those words.

If a child can’t request appropriately, they will find a different way to get their needs met. This is often through problem behavior, so when you teach a child how to request, their problem behaviors will often decrease as a result.  

At the earliest levels, you can help a child learn to request by approaching them, carrying two or three things that you know they like (example: a cookie, a favorite toy, and a favorite book) 

When the child shows interest in one (say they are reaching for the book), prompt them by saying the name of the item (eg: “book”) and pause for 2-3 seconds to see if they try to imitate you.

If they do try to say the word - even if it’s not perfect (say they only say “bu”) praise them and give them the item immediately. Say it yourself a few times as you praise. “Yay! Book! You said book! Here is the book!”

If the child doesn’t make an attempt to say the word, repeat the word “book” and pause again.
After the third time, give them the book as you say book, again, repeating that word as you give it. “Book, you want the book. Here is the book”  

You can do this with any toy, food, or activity that the child tends to enjoy. 

More advanced requesting skills include requesting with noun/verb combinations, requisition missing items, and requesting information. We discussed these, as well as labeling, responding, and conversing. We also touched on various modes of communication, such as sign language, picture exchange, and voice output devices. 

For more information on how you can encourage language development with your child, reach out for a consultation session!