Early Language Skills in Childcare Settings - Handouts for Early Intervention

Support carryover of early language and communication skills in childcare settings with these print-and-go early language handouts. This Early Intervention resource includes 12 setting-based handouts with ideas and tips for encouraging different early speech, language, and communication skills in childcare settings.

Ideal for therapists working in preschools, daycare/nursery settings, or Early Childhood classrooms.

CONTENTS

This resource includes the following setting-based handouts:

• Using Language Strategies in childcare settings
• Developing Cause and Effect Skills in childcare settings
• Developing Attention and Listening in childcare settings
• Encouraging Turn-Taking in childcare settings
• Encouraging Gestures in childcare settings
• Encouraging Imitation Skills in childcare settings
• Encouraging Symbolic Sounds in childcare settings
• Encouraging Core Words in childcare settings
• Encouraging First Words in childcare settings
• Encouraging Verbs in childcare settings
• Encouraging Concepts in childcare settings
• Encouraging Prepositions in childcare settings

Each handout includes simple, practical ideas for encouraging/supporting the particular skill in various activities/areas in childcare settings.

An information sheet covering research about early intervention in daycare/preschool settings is also included.

The strategies included in this resource are evidence-based General Language Stimulation strategies. General language stimulation involves making changes to the physical and linguistic environments, in order to increase the opportunities for the child to hear developmentally appropriate language. A caregiver-friendly handout outlining 6 strategies is also included.

Encouraging carryover of language facilitation strategies and skills into early years settings can be difficult at times.

But these evidence-based EI handouts have been designed to make it easier and more effective for you!

These handouts include simple, practical ideas for encouraging various early speech, language, and communication skills in the childcare setting. They are designed for use with toddlers and preschoolers with delayed speech, language, and communication skills. All of the handouts are written in caregiver-friendly terms, suitable for sharing with childcare providers after visits, or using for your own reference.

These handouts:

• Provide practical suggestions for supporting early speech, language, and communication skills during play and routines in a childcare setting
• Include suggested activities that are common occurrences in childcare settings. They are accessible to a wide variety of children and do not require specialist intervention or one-to-one support
• Are written in caregiver-friendly terms, so they can be easily understood by others.

These handouts aim to:

• Improve communication between therapists and childcare providers
• Support the development of early language skills in the childcare setting
• Support the carryover of skills and strategies between visits.

IDEAS FOR USE:

• Share the handouts with parents/caregivers or childcare providers after therapy visits or meetings to support the development and carryover of skills in the childcare setting.
• Put the handouts on a bulletin board as a “skill of the month”.
• Put these handouts in a binder and use them for your own reference.

* Resource is a zip file- two PDFs are included in the download- a US English version and a UK/AUS English version.