Using songs to promote speech and language development

Top tips in using songs to promote Speech and Language Development

Singing songs is a firm favourite will all children and adults, but how is this actually benefiting their development? Songs are a great way to promoting children’s speech and language development. It can help children who have very little language or those who have English as a second language. If children are less reluctant to join in, by just letting them listen to the songs is benefiting their development. Listening the different tones and words spoken can be just as beneficial as actually singing the songs.

Children of all ages should be introduced to songs; this is just as important in your baby room as it is in your preschool room.

Top tips in using songs to promote speech and language development

• During song time ask the children with their favourite song is
• Use widget symbols for children to choose songs
• Use songs for a particular propose eg hello, goodbye song or tidy up song
• Sing sounds that also involve sounds, this enables children that are less confident in singing to join in with the sounds.
• Sing songs slowly, this allows children to listen to the words spoken rather than it sounding like jumbled up words.
• During song time don’t forget to sing songs that are familiar to children as they need lots of repetition
• Communicate with parents the songs you are singing at nursery so they can share these with children at home.
• Use props such as puppets to represent the song
• Create a song bag that is in sight for children to see; therefore when they see a practitioner getting this bag they know this is song time.
• Use musical instruments to accompany songs