Language development

All people need to be able to communicate with others. The development of communication will assist social development and emotional and psychological development.

Areas of language development

Children’s language skills develop in four distinct modes, as follows.

Children's language skills develop in four distinct modes, represented here by four buttons. Click each button for further information.

People who have a hearing impairment may use sign language as another form of verbal communication. Signing is a language that is taught to the hearing impaired. Letters of the alphabet, sentences and expressions such as 'Good' are represented by hand signs.

Ways to develop language skills

Language can be developed through many ways, including:

• talking to babies and children
• repeating sounds back to babies
• pointing out and naming items
• asking open-ended questions
• making comments about what is happening
• participating in experiences and explaining, discussing and questioning
• looking at books, photographs, pictures
• telling stories, reading poems, singing songs
• using puppets and finger-plays
• building ideas or stories on a felt board.