Communicate positively with Children on an ongoing basis Communication Milestones

Birth to three months Infants communicate unintentially with sounds and actions Cry when hungry, cold or uncomfortable Look at caregivers face and move arms and body reflexively

Two way process begins When caregiver responds appropriately Infant: Cries Caregiver: Oh dear! What is the matter? Smiles and picks up infant Infant: Stops crying and appears to focus on caregiver’s face Caregiver: You just wanted a cuddle – that’s right now. Are you hungry? Infant: Cooing sound, burps. Caregiver: Oh, that’s what you were telling me. Better now?

Three to 12 Months Infant’s ability to communicate develops very quickly More sounds – babbles to self and others Show interest and gain comfort from familiar voices, singing & conversation Active communicators using sounds and actions to take turns Harsh, angry or loud voices or sudden sounds cause distress

Active partners in communication Infant: Gazing at teddy Caregiver: Places blanket over teddy. Where has teddy gone? Infant: Looks at caregiver and smiles, pulls at blanket, laughs when teddy appears. Caregiver: Peek-a-boo, you found teddy Infant: Looks at teddy, shakes blanket Caregiver: Will I do it again? Hides teddy Infant: Smiles, looks at blanket and back to caregiver Caregiver: The blanket, yes, under the blanket. Where is teddy? Find teddy. Infant: Pulls blanket off teddy and giggles Links to Cognitive development: Object permanence Surprise, expectation – think about “ring a ring a rosie” etc.

Twelve months to two years Toddlers use sounds, some words and non-verbal communication Understand and use gestures and body language Begin to associate words with familiar people, objects and actions Understand more words than they can say

Toddlers are active communicators Caregiver: Show me your tummy Toddler: Looks at tummy, pulls up shirt Caregiver: Where’s Daddy Toddler: Points at door

Toddlers can Communicate with intention Initiate interaction using communication Communicate for different purposes More capable communicators than people think Identify needs, greet people, draw attention to self, label objects, protest, show off, ask for comfort Participate as equals and introduce themselves into conversations

Toddlers express ideas using simple language, one or two-word sentences Caregiver: Here Tom – catch the ball Toddler: Points to children in sandpit. Truck, um truck. Caregiver: Yes, they have a truck Toddler: Mine... Truck gone Caregiver: Ah! Did someone take you truck? Toddler: Mmm, Truck brrrmmmm, brmmmm!

Two to three years Sentences extend to complex sentences and grammar They make mistakes but meaning is clear Me want a banana All gone doggie? Mine balloon broke He sick, poor him

The ‘here and now’ I am a big girl now. I got boots I want more juice Me no want spoon want fork The big dog all gone Begin to appreciate rules of language, wait to speak their turn and listen to others. Use ‘me’ and ‘I’ to indicate self-awareness.

Three to five years Use longer sentences and complex grammar May use tenses and negatives correctly to talk about past, future and things they have done Communicate to think, imagine, understand and to express self awareness Vocabulary – 5,000 words and understand more words Sentences are longer and more complex. Tell stories, follow stories, remember poems/songs and enjoy humour Can follow one-two step instructions.

Language of preschooler I think I’ll go outside to play My dad’s truck uses lots of petrol Let’s put the baby horse to sleep Jon and me built a big tower