EARLY UNDERSTANDING

 

From around 9 months of age, a child begins to start using all the clues around them to understand what is going on. These include clues such as, gesture and tone of voice, as well as familiarity with the situation. For example, if a mother asks a child to sit down, whilst pulling out a chair, tying their bib on while food smells fill the room, the child is likely to understand what she wants them to do. The child, however, understands few of the words, interpreting them as part of the whole situation.

 

Strategies to develop early understanding:

• Keep sentences short and simple
• Be repetitive by using the same phrase for a particular activity
• Use gesture and actions to support what you say
• Make eye contact with your child when you are communicating with them
• Praise and encourage your child when they respond

 

Activities to try:

Mealtimes, bedtime, getting dressed, bath time, going shopping, family member arriving home, favourite television programme.

• • Choose one or two sentences to use consistently
  • e.g. “It’s dinner time”

“Wash your hands”

“Let’s put your bib on”

 

• Use gestures and actions to accompany these sentences.

e.g. – Show your child their plate and cutlery

– Let your child smell the food

– Show them their bib, and then put it on

– Pull out their high chair

• Later, begin to say the sentence before you use the gestures and actions. This will help your child to learn to anticipate mealtimes on hearing just your sentences.