USING songs, rhymes and picture books is a great way to help your child develop their language and communication skills. It’s never too early or too late to start singing and rhyming with your child.

Not only is it fun but it is also a great way to get to know each other. Children’s communication skills develop at different rates but there are many things parents can do to help their child develop the skills to read, write and communicate effectively.

Sing to your child. A child loves nothing more than the sound of their parents’ voice. baby will be soothed and calmed by your voice.

They love changes in variation and vocal tone. This keeps it exciting for them and helps them to learn about the natural sounds of a language. If you forget the words, make up your own variations. Giving children a sense of joy and excitement about language will naturally help to boost their desire to read and write.

Rhymes also help us to learn to play with words. They tune our ears to all the sounds in the word. By hearing different sounds we learn how sounds combine and blend together to form a word.

When saying nursery rhymes, we tend to speak more slowly and clearly. This is great because it means that children have a chance to catch the words and the way they’re formed. If you can, ask your child to face you. The eye contact will help your child develop their non-verbal communication skills.

Music and rhymes also help us learn to hear a steady beat. Research has shown that children who can keep a steady beat are naturally better readers. So while you’re singing and rhyming be sure to clap along. Give children a chance to feel the beat through tapping, clapping and marching.

The most important reason to sing and rhyme with a child? It gives them a love for language. And this love of language, books, singing and rhyming will form a solid foundation that will help children value learning.