Getting tots to talk
Device being used to close verbal ability gap between children in poorer families and those in affluent areas
Several Auckland youngsters are wearing a device to track their speech in a project to bridge the gap between the vocabulary of poorer and better-off children.
The technology is being used for the first time in New Zealand as part of a campaign called Talking Matters, which involves early learning centres, schools and researchers.
The work started because of a widening gap between the speech of children in affluent areas and those living in low socioeconomic communities after it emerged some children were starting school with language typical of 3-year-olds.
At the heart of the project is a device called a Lena Recorder. Worn in a bib, the device records words and responses between a parent and a child.
In a trial of four Auckland mothers and children, the data was sent back to project manager Emma Quigan, a speech and language therapist, who met them each week to discuss the results and suggest strategies to help them talk more frequently.
Quigan said the technology was trialled by women who lived in units run by the Anglican Trust for Women & Children in Auckland, in which they
learn parenting and home-making skills.
More of the devices have been purchased in the hope the campaign can target teenage mothers.
“We were wanting to find ways that would help encourage parents to have more rich conversations with their children, both in quality and quantity,” said Quigan.
“If the parents are able to have these quality conversations with their children on a regular basis, their speech will improve.”
She said the number of times the children responded verbally during conversation with their parents had improved over the course of the trial, which started in February. “I’ve been blown away with the level of personal development for themselves as well as their children. “They feel much more secure in their parenting style. They love that they . . . can make decisions about their parenting based on evidence rather than someone telling them what to do.” Children who don’t experience a lot of interaction and talk may not grow a wide vocabulary, may struggle to express themselves, and may struggle to learn to read or write. It could affect their thinking, creativity, problemsolving and ability to form relationships. Quigan will present her findings from the trial at a summit run by Talking Matters — which is supported by Comet, an Auckland Council con- trolled organisation and independent trust — today at the Ellerslie Events Centre, where Children’s Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft will also speak.
Patrese Herewini, 25, who lives with her four children in Mt Wellington, trialled the technology with her son, Saent, aged 15 months.
“[I’ve] made heaps of progress with my son.
“When we first started using [the vest], I made an effort like I talked to him more and all that, and then it just became normal. It didn’t matter if they weren’t wearing the vest.”
Herewini said it was as much of a learning experience for her as it was for her child.
“It’s brought us together . . . I wasn’t much of a reader but now I’m reading too.”
Quigan said programmes like these are more respectful towards parents.
“It puts the power back to parents. A lot of programmes around parenting are very focused on, ‘ This is what the experts say’, [and] telling people how they need to change.”