To many school-age children, language and math are subjects learned in the classroom; the integral role of these skills in everyday life is sometimes overlooked. However, the thought processes required for language and math are the building blocks for nearly all other skills. The earlier a child begins to master these skills, the more adept he or she will be at future learning.
Language development involves both expression and comprehension. Language expression is the ability to produce sounds that are used to express a child's needs and thoughts, while language comprehension is the ability to understand others. Activities such as listening, singing, repeating, reading, and speaking all promote language development. A child's language develops rapidly when they are surrounded with both the spoken and written word.
Here are some things you can do to promote the development of language skills:
Math skills are developed as children interact with objects. Concepts such as size, shape, form, numbers, sequencing, and grouping are all included in this category.
Keep in mind that the early years in a child's development are the most critical; whatever you can do to enhance the learning process in these years will provide a head start for your child in the future.
RESOURCES:
The ABC's Of Child Development
PBS
http://www.pbs.org/
Mental Health America
http://www.nmha.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
About Kids Health
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/
Children's Mental Health Ontario
http://www.kidsmentalhealth.ca/
References:
Speech and language development milestones. National Institute on Deaf and Other Communicative Disorders website. Available at: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/speechandlanguage.asp#mychild. Updated April 2001. Accessed July 8, 2008.
Stages of math development (cognitive domain). Michigan State University website. Available at: http://www.cem.msu.edu/~leej/development-math.html. Accessed July 8, 2008. From: MacDonal S. The Portfolio and Its Use: A Road Map for Assessment. Southern Early Childhood Association; 1997.
Your child's communication: kindergarten. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website. Available at: http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/kindergarten.htm. Published 2008. Accessed July 8, 2008.
Last reviewed June 2010 by Brian P. Randall, MD
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