Slow, slower and repeat

The importance of talking, singing, playing and reading in the early years is something you hear a lot about! 

These simple yet important things we do each day that help growing brains get what they need. But did you know that slowing right down and repeating the things you say can be just as important as how often you do it?

When you sing a nursery rhyme more slowly, especially for the first time, your child is taking in all the sounds, and is making sense of them bit by bit. They’re absorbing all of this information from lots of cues, including the sounds you make, your expressions and facial movements, and the actions that go with it. It’s easier and quicker for them to learn when you slow right down and sing it again and again.

Try it for yourself. Sing a familiar song like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Sing the words and do the actions for “Twinkle Twinkle, little..." but then stop before the word star.

Does your child have a go at the word, make an action or just move their body to indicate they know what’s next?

Little steps like these are all important in the pathway to learning language.

Repeating stories over and over is another fantastic way to get young children involved. The more familiar your child is with the story, the louder they get and the more likely they are to join in, creating lots of opportunities for learning.