Understanding language
Understanding language (also known as comprehension or receptive language) helps children to:
- follow instructions
- answer questions
- understand stories
- identify objects and pictures
How to use understanding language
Visuals
Use visuals to help, like photos or pictures.
Gestures and signs
Support verbal language with gestures or signs, as appropriate.
Let your child guide you
Let your child guide you, and talk about what your child is doing. Label things they reach for and are playing with, and comment on what they are doing. For example, say “oh, a green car” or “it’s a fluffy teddy”.
Repetition
Children need to hear words with their meanings lots of times so that they remember them. That’s why it helps to talk about the things that are there. Going over the same things helps them to remember. For example, “here’s the car”, “it’s a red car” or “a big red car”.
Avoid distractions and noise
When playing games with your child make sure there are no distractions or noises in the background. It is hard to focus on what someone is saying or doing when the television, radio or music is on.
Make it fun
Make communication fun and worthwhile. Help to make what you are saying interesting by using lots of intonation (up and down sounds in your voice). To back up what you are talking about, use:
- facial expressions and movements
- pictures, symbols or similar things
Keep it simple
Try not to use lots of long and difficult sentences. Keep it simple and at your child’s level of understanding. Say the names of things, rather than “it” or “that” all the time.
If your child doesn’t understand
Even with these suggestions, there may still be times that your child does not understand something you say.
When this happens, give them some time to think about it and even say it again. If this does not help, try to say it in a different way or just use the most important parts of what you are saying.
For example, say “get your coat” instead of “It’s time to go to the shops and get some food. Can you go and get your coat?”.
Understanding language resources
See our Wordplay video on understanding language for children aged 3 to 5 years old:
The video below covers phonological awareness for parents and carers:
Using language
Use of language is also known as expressive language. It is how your child is learning to:
- say new words
- put them together into sentences
Use of language also includes non-verbal communication like gestures.
Early years development of expressive language
The ages should be treated as a rough guide, as each child is unique and will develop at their own pace.
9 months old
By 9 months old, babies will usually:
- babble
- try to say words, for example “dada”
18 months old
By 18 months old, babies will usually:
- Say more common words
- Sometimes puts two words together such as “all gone” or “bye bye”
2 years old
By 2 years old, a child will usually:
- Know up to 200 words
- Put two and three words together in short sentences – for example, “me go home”
- Use up to 50 words
2.5 years old
By 2.5 years old, a child will usually:
- put three and four word sentences together, for example, “me go in there”
- use different sorts of words
- start to use question words, for example, “what’s that there?”
3 years old
By 3 years old, a child will usually:
- link more than four words together, for example “I want juice and sweets”
- starts to use “and” to link ideas
- starts to use “I”, “he”, “she” words and multiple words like “cats”, “balls”
3.5 years old
By 3.5 years old, a child will usually:
- link ideas together using “cos” (because) – for example “I put wellies on ‘cos it’s raining”
- asks more difficult questions using “why” and “how”
4 years old
By 4 years old, a child will usually:
- use talking for many reasons
- be able to re-tell favourite stories
- be able to play make believe games, for example “you be the mum and I’ll be the baby”
4.5 years old
By 4.5 years old, a child will usually:
- be able to tell others about what is happening
Makaton
Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate. It supports the development of essential communication skills.
How Makaton works
Signs are used along with speech, in spoken word order. This helps to provide extra clues about what someone is saying.
Makaton:
- aids understanding
- provides a means of expression
- can facilitate social interaction
- can increase equal opportunities
Makaton training
The Speech and Language Team (SLT) at NHS Ayrshire and Arran provide Makaton training to:
- parents (for free)
- practitioners (for a cost)
We will also support establishments looking for:
- bespoke Makaton training
- Makaton taster sessions
Your local SLT team or speech and language therapist can provide you with further information or specific signs you may need. Please contact our helpline or drop in to know more.