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Media Text- Synthesising skills 

Magazine: Mother and baby article; Advice on how to support the development of language

As a parent, we all wish for our babies to be able to develop great language skills in a healthy amount of time. By using a range of techniques and methods, you can improve your baby’s language in a fun way for both of you!

Firstly, a very important factor of the development of your baby’s language is by speaking lots to and around your baby, loud and clearly so they can absorb the language correctly. Although they may not understand the meaning of the language you use, if they are surrounded by language continuously, they gain familiarly and then use it in the correct context. This is one of the reasons why children love repetitiveness. The theorists Bowen suggests that at the age 1-2 years old, toddlers are at the “stage in which they will want the same story, rhyme or game repeated many times.” As the repetition of these activities give children the context simple language is used in, you can put this into practice by giving them simple commands (e.g. Push the bus!), and simple questions (where’s doggy gone?) to put it into their spoken language.

Although it’s important to speak directly to your child for the improvement of their language, your child wants to be like you and do everything you do! As you’re their best friend and role model, whatever language you use, they will try to imitate. You can see this through the popular first words of “Mummy” and “Daddy”, due to the baby trying to imitate what you say. As they aim to learn language and imitate you, they enter the one word stage, using one word as forms of questions and statements. This can be understood through your baby’s tone, for example, a high pitch at the end may indicate a question, allowing your baby to express their feelings with little communication.

Furthermore, rhyme is an extremely good and fun way for both of you to develop their language. This can involve books, poems, and general songs, giving your baby the development of remembering words and the context they can be put in. The famous poet Oden Nash once quoted in his poem, “Their pronunciation is awful/ And their grammar is flawful” when talking about young children. It’s key to remember that your child is learning, and supporting them is their best tool to becoming great at the English Language. Although they may keep making mistakes, always help and give positive feedback.

Improvements

Use a less formal voice to engage the reader