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Communication skills are really important for all of us to use on a regular basis. There’s a lot to learn from socialising and building a good rapport between other people of all ages. At school age your child will have plenty of opportunities to develop a good development of speaking and listening to others, which can be greatly developed at home too. Here are some top tips to get your child communicating freely and effectively.
Make time for open conversations
Open conversations make time for your child to say what’s on their mind and how they can develop their language skills. It’s important to give your child the freedom to express themselves, no matter what comes to mind. At an infant age a lot of funny phrases and sentences will come out, but it’s still good practice to get them picking up new words and opinions from you inadvertently.
Have fun together
Plenty of activities and enriching moments together will help your child naturally build their skills in communication and speech development. There’s a lot to learn from each other in having time for fun, and a child’s educational journey should feel as exciting as it can be, especially in their younger years.
Head out on day trips, make time for games in the house, or head to the play park together. The happier a child is, the more likely they want to talk and show who they really are.
Read books together
To help your child develop their language skills they should be reading on a regular basis. Make it a bonding experience by helping your child pick out lots of different books that challenge their grammar, sentence and word development. These will help your child learn new phrases that they can use in regular conversation, making them more comfortable in talking to you freely.
Make time for extra-curricular activities
Provided by many schools, such as this private school in Somerset, extra-curricular activities help your child pick up new skills and explore passions. It’s a good time for children to talk to other students in their classroom as well, or make new friends. The purpose of many extra-curricular activities is that they provide a safe space for students to pick up their skills while also removing the potential for judgement.
Communication will be something all children should have to master when they’re ready, but it can come easier for some over others. Make time to work on ways to improve your child’s communication skills to build their confidence and self-esteem.
