Learning Specialist News

Fostering Oral Language Skills at Home

At South Melbourne Park Primary School, we place a strong emphasis on oral language development—a vital foundation for children’s literacy, social interaction, and emotional growth. Research shows that oral language not only nurtures reading and writing abilities by strengthening skills like vocabulary, comprehension, phonological awareness, and phonics, but also supports children’s ability to express ideas, engage in conversations, and understand others. 

Here are some simple yet effective ways you can support your child’s oral language skills at home:

• Greet others confidentlyEncourage your child to say “hello” when they meet someone—be it a school staff member, a neighbour, or the cashier at a shop. These small interactions help them practice initiating communication and using everyday language.

• Engage in two-way conversationsTalk with your child, not just to them. Ask questions, listen attentively to their responses, and invite them to ask questions of their own. This back-and-forth exchange builds conversation skills and confidence. 

• Observe, Wait, Listen + Respond.

• Encourage full-sentence responsesWhether they are describing their favourite part of the day or answering, “Where are we going?” encourage your child to speak in complete sentences. This strengthens their ability to structure language clearly and express needs and ideas effectively.

• Read aloud and discuss stories dailyReading aloud exposes children to rich vocabulary and complex sentence structures that they might not encounter in everyday speech. Ask questions about characters, settings, or events to invite deeper reflection and discussion. 

• Incorporate current and new affairs discussions.

Let your child take the lead in conversations. Pay attention to what they are focused on, allow them time to respond (up to 10 seconds), and respond thoughtfully to keep the dialogue going. This encourages meaningful communication and supports language development.

  Setting aside time to explore age-appropriate news helps children:

• Broaden their worldview and grow empathy for others. 
• Develop confidence in forming and expressing opinions, and critical thinking skills.
• Enhance vocabulary and communication through meaningful, relevant dialogue.
• Use open-ended questions and play-based talk.

Start conversations with prompts like “I wonder…,” ask genuine queries, and pause to give your child time to respond thoughtfully. Connect discussions to their personal experiences to make them more meaningful.

Together, these everyday practices create a language-rich home environment—an essential ingredient in preparing children for academic success and strong social interactions. Thank you for partnering with us to nurture confident communicators!