Early Brain Development and Language Learning

In the first five years of life, a child’s brain develops more than at any other time. During this period, children learn a variety of essential skills, including walking, play, social skills and, of course, communication.

Each child’s brain consists of millions of brain cells. Each brain cell can reach out to make connections with other brain cells – these connection points are called synapses. As electrical signals are passed between brain cells, they cross the synapse. If the synapse is stimulated by repeated experience or exposure, it allows for an efficient, permanent pathway to be made. If the synapse is not stimulated repeatedly, then the connection will be lost.

These first years are critical for language development in children. During the first five years, the brain is actively making new pathways and is primed for learning new skills. That’s not to say a skill can’t be learnt after the first five years. It just means new skills will likely take more time and effort to form the same pathways. Some of the key language learning that a child’s brain does in the first five years are:

• Telling sounds apart and, later on, words
• Using first words and word combinations
• Learning to say different sounds
• Learning to form sentences
• Learning grammar and growing vocabulary
• Learning to ask and answer questions

Supporting language learning

Environment and exposure to language play an important role in early brain development. As the permanent pathways are formed from repeated exposure, the more a child is exposed to language, the more likely they are to begin using it. Language learning begins from birth, and research suggests babies respond to sound ten weeks before they are born.

Some simple ways to create a language-rich home are:

• Use as much language around your child as possible. Comment, request, question, label, protest… the more talking the child hears, the more likely they are to use it!
• Use ‘parentese’ with babies. This is when an adult uses shorter sentences (one to three words is a great length for little ones), a higher pitch and increased intonation in their voice. Children often learn better from this.
• Be face to face with your child. Whether your child is a baby or a five-year-old, children are often great mimics. If they can see the shape of your mouth as you make sounds, your gestures, your facial expression and other non-verbal means of communication, they are more likely to copy and use it.
• Use songs, books and nursery rhymes to engage your child in language learning. Adding visuals and gestures also helps increase language learning, and makes it more engaging!