Joséphine Vigouroux
By the time they get to preschool, most children know a lot of everyday words and can make simple sentences with 3 or 4 words. If they cannot yet pronounce all the sounds and simplify certain words (like "pestacle"), adults can understand what they are saying and children are very keen to talk to them.
However, they still have a lot to learn, and the progress each child makes during their preschool years is significant. Their vocabulary will grow from around 300 words to over 2,500 on average. They will learn to articulate complex words correctly and will master almost the entire complexity of the French language orally.
While school is an excellent environment for language acquisition, it merely complements the learning that takes place at home with family. Therefore, it's crucial for children to have numerous opportunities to develop their language skills with their parents and their wider social circle.
From a very young age, value what your child says and try to understand their words and thoughts, even if their language isn't yet precise. Children learn to speak by speaking, and they need to know you are listening attentively to feel encouraged to share with you.
Children are naturally curious and ask countless questions every day. 'Why' questions typically begin around ages 2-3, followed by 'how' questions around ages 4-5. This presents a wonderful opportunity to develop not only their knowledge and understanding of the world, but also their vocabulary.
In turn, take the time to ask your child questions about what they see, think, and do. Children rarely enjoy overly open-ended or past-focused questions, like 'What did you do at school today?', but they are usually delighted to chat with you while playing a game or looking through a photo album.
Libraries and bookstores are brimming with books for children of all ages... so make the most of it and read to your child every day!
Paula Buswell
