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Language Development & Communication
Listening & Understanding
WiseTip: LD-UND-M2436-P01B

Play sound games with your child that involve phoneme manipulation and rhymes. For example, find out if your child can differentiate between “pick-pig/bit-big”.

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  1. Honig, A. ed. (2014). Fostering Early Language with Infants and Toddlers. Montessori Life, 26(2), 28–31.

24-36 months
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WHY IT MATTERS

Children who can distinguish different sounds and phonemes are more likely to develop stronger literacy skills and language skills over time.

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  1. Parlakian, R. & Lerner, C. (2010). Beyond twinkle, twinkle using music with infants and toddlers. YC Young Children. 65. 14-19.

  2. Honig, A. ed. (2014). Fostering Early Language with Infants and Toddlers. Montessori Life, 26(2), 28–31.

Fingerplay, rhymes and music support this critical skill because most songs include rhyming or substituting one phoneme for another. Songs and musical activities have been shown to increase children’s vocabulary as new words are introduced in a fun way through the lyrics.

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  1. Moyeda, I. X., Gomez, I. C., & Flores, M. T. (2006). Implementing a musical program to promote preschool children's vocabulary development. Early Childhood Research and Practice, 8(1). Retrieved from http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v8n1/galicia.html

Studies have also found it beneficial to have a ‘‘print-rich’’ environment from infancy, with ongoing access to books and reading, as this helps to develop children's language ability in later years.

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  1. Lawhon, T., & Cobb, J. B. (2002). Routines that build emergent literacy skills in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Early Childhood Education Journal, 30(2), 113-118.

  2. Mascarenhas SS, & Moorakonda R, Agarwal P, Lim SB, Sensaki S, Chong YS, Allen JC, & Daniel LM (2017). Characteristics and influence of home literacy environment in early childhood-centered literacy orientation. Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare, 26, 81–97.

Reading to infants stimulates listening and language skills.

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  1. Kupetz, B., & Green, E. (1997). Sharing books with infants and toddlers: Facing the challenge. Young Children, 52(2), 22–27.
Reading with infants and toddlers also helps parents to be sensitive to the level of children’s language development and helps them to better pitch their language to children's ability. This has effects on later literacy and learning.
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  1. Fletcher, K. L., Cross, J. R., Tanney, A. L., Schneider, M., & Finch, W. H. (2008). Predicting Language Development in Children At Risk: The Effects of Quality and Frequency of Caregiver Reading. Early Education & Development, 19(1), 89–111.