30 Million Word Gap and Five Tips to get your kids talking!

I recently found a new article that looked at the 30 million-word gap. For about 20 years we (educators and politicians) have based interventions and curriculum on this study originally completed by Ms. Hart and Mr. Risley. They followed 42 children starting at 7 to 8 months of age until 3 years of age. They determined that there was a strong correlation between the number of words heard by children and their vocabulary at age 3.

This research is very interesting to me because it often is used to compare the middle class with the poor. This is actually beyond that, research shows that it is not the vocabulary you have but rather the way you use the vocabulary you do have.

New research shows that it is so much more than just hearing words. Making baby Einstein videos obsolete!  It is actually the conversations, or turn taking, children engage or are engaged in with caregivers that increase vocabulary and critical thinking skills. Here is a video about this:

Add video:  https://youtu.be/XPbSlNLg_gk

John Tulenko of Learning Matters reports on Providence Talks

Or

With video 4 min

https://youtu.be/CNJQGbNbI-8

Here are 5 tips to increase vocabulary and conversations with your child

1.     Talk to and sing with your baby. From the very beginning, as a newborn, talk to your child about what you are doing. Sign songs and play rhyming games.

2.     Point to objects and label them with names, for example look out your window and point out the birds, talk about what you see them doing.  Talk through diaper changes and bath time.

3.     Give choices. Giving a limited number of choices to young children is a great way to boost their vocabulary and their critical thinking skills. Even before they can answer you, ask them, “Do you want the striped onsie or the Polk a Dot onsie?” “Do you want Oatmeal or eggs & toast for breakfast?”

4.     Have conversations with back and forth exchanges: This can start when your baby is babbling, mimic what they say and add something new, see if they call it back t you. Also act as if they are saying real words, this has been linked to positive outcomes for children. Later ask them questions about what they notice, or what they see, hear, feel, think…

5.     Give time: Give plenty of time for children to process the information and formulate an answer. One training I went to shared research that it takes 45 seconds longer for children to process information. Ask a question or pose a topic for debate and wait, count to 10 or 15 before saying anything more.

It is amazing to hear what your children come up with when you talk to them and they are given the space and time to answer. It is very rewarding to talk to young children and the best part is building that relationship. The extra benefit is that when your baby turns into a teen they will still talk to you.

Here is more information about this topic:

http://news.mit.edu/2018/conversation-boost-childrens-brain-response-language-0214

This article is where I got the above video

https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/04/22/key-to-vocabulary-gap-is-quality-of.html

more information about the study and an intervention program that is making a difference

http://resourcesforearlylearning.org/educators/module/20/7/19/

a Module for teachers, caregivers or those interested in learning more about promoting vocabulary.