Using Books to Encourage Early Language
Want to know another fun and easy strategy to help build your early communicator’s language skills? Using books that repeat words/phrases or include funny sounds!
Some of our favourite books:
This silly book has A LOT of animal sounds! If your child likes animals, this is the perfect early language book!
Dear Zoo is a classic toddler book, the lift flaps help engage children who may not be ready to fill-in with words! We love to “send him back!” as a group in our preschool!
For littles who like counting, this classic story can incorporate their preference for numbers with a story that repeats the words A LOT.
This fun book has a song that goes along with it! Bonus! It also includes lots of letters for children who are particularily interested in those!
This is an Elemenoe favourite! This book has repeating sounds and words that make it extra fun!
To make this an even more effective language strategy, turn your book into a play chain with these steps!
Start with a book your child enjoys
Encourage your child to come sit with you (e.g., on your lap facing you, or sitting on the floor in front of you)
Start reading the book
Once you’ve identified a phrase that repeats, and PAUSE and WAIT for your child to make a sound or fill in the word
If your child is an early communicator who does not yet use words, you can wait for a communicative response before reading the rest of the book. If they look up to you, continue reading the book and pause at another moment to provide another opportunity
Your child will learn their “role” in the play chain which involves filling in your missing words!
Repeat the book a couple more times as long as your child is interested!
For more examples of using books and play chains, check out our Instagram reels @elemenoe and sing along with us!
