Describing Things and Grouping Them Develops The Language of Classifying

What we do and why we do it

Mum : Which leaves look the same?

Maria : There are big ones and some with really curly edges.

Jodie : And lots of skinny ones too.

We ask children to describe objects and get them to look for similarities and differences. We help children to develop the language to classify, sort and group things.

They need language for classifying in literacy and numeracy later.

Source : Department of Education, Science and Training, Australia

Image adapted from at: www.saskschools.ca/~pvsdmile/

Playing with Rhymes Helps Children Practise Sounds

We sing rhymes and jingles with children so that they learn to hear and match words that sound the same.

Later, children will begin to match sound to alphabet letters on the page. This will be very important in learning to read, write and spell.

When English is a second language, adults share rhymes in their first language with children.

Source : Department of Education, Science and Training, Australia

Watching and Listening Develops Languages

Mum : "Up you come; is that better? You're happy now."

We use our hands, eyes, face and words to communicate with very young babies, because this shows them how people communicate.

Soon, the baby's babbling noises will sound like adult talk. They begin to take turns and wait for a response.

Later, children will choose the right words and body language to communicate their feeling and needs.

Source : The Department of Education, Science and Training, Australia