Fun and engaging ways to boost your child's language skills

Bringing up children to speak multiple languages is a task worth investing in. It's been shown over and again that not only is it easier to learn a new language when you are a child, but also that children who can speak more than one language often show enhanced problem-solving skills, improved memory and greater flexibility with their thinking. Not only that, but being able to think in different languages helps foster a greater sense of open-mindedness and empathy in children.

Here are some tips on how to create a supportive environment for your child to learn in, and fun ways you can help shore up their language skills - sometimes without them even noticing!

The power of conversation

One of the most effective ways to boost language skills is through regular, meaningful conversations. If you've ever visited a lively classroom or a home where discussions flow freely, you've witnessed the benefits of a chatty environment. Engaging in conversations with your child, especially in your mother tongue, is not only fun but also educational. Here’s how it helps:

• Encourages critical thinking: Conversations prompt children to think about ideas, exercise memory, and reflect on past events.
• Builds connections: Talking helps children make connections between ideas and events, enhancing their understanding of the world.
• Develops storytelling skills: Sharing stories about family, culture and traditions helps children learn to tell complete stories and give detailed descriptions.
• Enhances listening skills: Being an active participant in conversations builds stamina and understanding in both speaking and listening, skills that are transferable across languages.

Children love hearing stories about their heritage and family history. These narratives not only enrich their language skills but also strengthen their cultural identity.

Learning through play

Playing games is another excellent way to enhance language skills. Games provide a dynamic and interactive platform for learning new vocabulary and practising communication. Here are some strategies to maximise the language benefits of play:

Answering "wh"-questions

If your child struggles with answering "wh"-questions (who, what, when, why), games can be a helpful tool. Even if the game doesn’t require answering questions, you can incorporate question-and-answer drills during the setup. For example, review the game’s directions and ask questions to ensure your child understands them. This practice helps improve comprehension and attention.

Improving sentence structure

Games are perfect for practising sentence structure. Encourage your child to use complete sentences while playing. For instance, they can say, “I rolled a three,” or “I picked the red card.” Model these sentences for them and provide visual aids if necessary. This practice helps children form grammatically correct sentences and improves their overall language proficiency.

Building vocabulary

Don’t assume your child knows all the words in a game. Review the vocabulary beforehand, during play and afterwards. Encourage your child to use new words in sentences and describe their meanings. Help them categorise words (for example, verbs and nouns) and recognise when they don’t know a word, prompting them to ask for help. This approach works for both basic and complex vocabulary.

Developing social language skills

Incorporating these non-traditional methods into your daily routine can significantly enhance your child’s language skills. Conversations and games not only make learning enjoyable but also provide practical, real-life contexts for language use. For expat families, these activities can help bridge the gap between different languages and cultures, making the language learning journey a shared and enriching experience.

Happy learning!