Parents and Language

Abstract

Language development is rooted in using speech to communicate and share with others. Having something important to say and someone to say it to are the touchstones of progress in speaking. Many young children arrive in the classroom overwhelmed and tongue-tied, unable either to express themselves or to initiate conversations with their teachers and peers. Other children may have articulation and communication difficulties which will already have been referred to a speech therapist or other outside agency (seeLANGUAGE (Main Unit), HEARING IMPAIREDandSPEECH).