What distinguishes language education from language support?

When it comes to language development it is important to distinguish between the terms 'language education' and 'language support'.(Everyday-integrated) language educationbasically describes the process in which children in everyday life are continuously and in accordance with their developmental stage linguistically educatedare. Whether at home with their parents, in kindergarten, or at school – conscious and unconscious influences contribute to children's language development.

Language support, on the other hand, means the targeted support for the language development of individual children, for example when they exhibit language deficits and need additional support. The goal is to support children in their individual development.

Is special language support even sensible?

Support mania? Our society is increasingly succumbing to a mania for optimization that does not spare children. Everything that can be promoted is promoted, from baby swimming to PEKiP groups to foreign language courses and logic training for toddlers. Every healthy child learns to speak more or less on their own, simply through interaction with their parents. So does it even make sense to additionally promote language acquisition?

Language support in daycare and school: Targeted language support is part of the concept of many schools and daycares. If it turns out that a child has language deficits, for example in pronunciation or language comprehension, there is the option of regular language support by specially trained speech-language therapists.The earlier this training begins, the greater the chance that.

speech disorders will resolve completelyPromoting enjoyment of language: The aim of everyday language support should not be for children to learn to speak especially early or especially well. Rather, it is about conveying a love of language through playful support to convey enjoyment of language, to stimulate linguistic imagination and to motivate children to a creative and varied use of language.

Songs and rhymes for language development

Through language, children learn to understand their world. This learning process is all the more intensive the more varied the language is. Of course, everyday communication can already be very varied. Many parents quickly realize, however, that their child already listens fascinated in infancy, when you sing simple children's songs or recite little rhymes.

Why is singing important for language development?

Singing goes beyond verbal communication, since melodies also convey emotions and personality. Many children already sing in toddlerhood made-up melodies without actual lyrics as an individual form of expression. When parents sing with their children, they not only create a special emotional level, but also also promote linguistic development: Children can remember song lyrics surprisingly well and understand linguistic connections particularly quickly, when they are supported by a melody.

Some of the best-known children's songs for language development

• Bake, bake a cake (with clapping)

• All my little ducklings (with hand movements for the ducks)

• Choo-choo-choo the train (all familiar names are used as 'passengers')

Rhymes for language development – best from the very beginning

• "This is the thumb that shakes the plums ..."\r

Some well-known finger plays with rhymes

• Himpelchen and Pimpelchen (the thumbs become two dwarfs)

• This is the thumb (counting rhyme with all fingers)

• There you have a coin, go to the market

These and other finger plays for babies are a sure way to attract your child's attention. The connection between language and gesture is neurally based – the language center lies in the brain directly next to the center for hand motor skills. Babies explore their environment with their hands long before they can speak. Finger plays with rhymes combine the intuitive sense of touch with the linguistic input and are therefore particularly supportive of children's language development.

How to support your toddler's language development at home

Promoting communicative development with dolls

A wonderful way to get into conversation with each other is role play. Especially in play with dolls children process experiences from their everyday life and often take on the role of a parent. They often replay conversations or sometimes remain completely silent. But even then they tell a story in their head and thus expand their language skills.

Promoting communicative development with children's games

The language development of children can also be promoted through playing together. The HABA classic Orchard expands vocabulary, language comprehension and sentence structure and has been delighting children and their families for many generations.

Promoting communicative development with stories

Stories encourage children to speak. That is why reading aloud is so important for language development and incidentally strengthens children's personality and social competence. Regular reading aloud at a fixed time thus becomes an intensive cuddle and feel-good time.

Even babies can play with stroller books play, from the age of one children are old enough for first cardboard picture books with simple illustrations and short rhymesfirst informational books about their daily life, their favorite animals, vehicles or toys.More tips about promoting children's language development

In everyday life with children there are further subtleties to consider to optimally accompany their

language development: Talking:

• Create a stimulating, communicative environment and involve your child in communication from birth.Listening:

• Patient, interested listening is a form of language promotion, as it stimulates and supports your child.Picture books:

• Look at picture books with your child instead of just reading them aloud. While viewing, you get into conversation and your child will try more to grasp the connection between text and image.Accept mistakes:

• Do not immediately correct wrong pronunciation or grammar, but encourage your child to speak freely and uninhibitedly.No coercion:

• Pressure of expectation takes away children's joy in speaking – this also includes prompts to repeat a word or pronounce it correctly.No baby talk:

• Parents easily fall into simplified baby talk - but complete, correct sentences promote language acquisition much more.Corrective feedback:

• By repeating their child's utterances (correctly), parents provide important linguistic input (e.g.: Child 'Ado.', Parents: 'Yes, that's a car.').Eye contact when speaking:

• Eye contact signals interest and conveys emotions; it also helps children to see the speaker's mouth movements in order to understand what is being said correctly. Later they will enjoy short stories and

Image credits

Mother and little son sit together and read a book at home © Elena Kratovich - stock.adobe.com

Little boy at a speech therapy session © kasto - stock.adobe.com

Children's hands lie on parents' hands and play finger games © dtatiana - stock.adobe.com