Experts reveal why talking is the best Father’s Day gift
IT’S EASY TO THINK OF FATHER’S DAY IN TERMS OF GREETING CARD JOKES AND NOVELTY GIFTS, BUT IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNISE AND REFLECT ON THE KEY ROLE DADS AND FATHER FIGURES PLAY IN A CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT
THE role is constantly changing, with the job description for “dad” having evolved over the generations from breadwinner and disciplinarian to now playing a broader and more active part in the care and development of their children.
According to experts working with the Welsh Government’s Talk With Me programme, which shares speech, language, and communication skills (SLC) advice with parents and those caring for children aged between 0-5, one of the most important roles dads can play from the earliest days of parenthood is helping to develop these important life skills.
Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan said: “Dads and father figures come in all shapes and sizes, and there is no one answer to the question ‘What is a dad?’. What we do know is the crucial role they play in shaping their child’s future. It is amazing what children take in at a young age and talking with little ones, playing and sharing books together are some of the best ways a parent can help their child to develop.”
Speech and language therapists say that talking with little ones through play, reading, or just general chatter, helps their brains grow and develop. Even the simplest steps can help them develop as they learn to form new words, make connections between words, and put sentences together.
Experts also suggest that building SLC activities into the time parents and carers already spend interacting with their children can significantly boost their development and communication skills.
The amount of time dads spend with their children has undoubtedly increased in recent years, particularly since the onset of the pandemic.
In May 2020, the Office for National Statistics revealed that the first Covid lockdown resulted in a 58% increase in childcare undertaken by men.
While the data shows women continue to spend more time on childcare, the gender care gap had reduced.
Similarly, the findings of a study by the Fatherhood Institute, Lockdown Fathers, found 78% of dads spent more time with their children, with 65% reporting that they had a better relationship with their children after the spring 2020 lockdown.
But speech and language experts are keen to point out that many of the activities that can boost a child’s development can be built into everyday activities. In fact, many parents and guardians may not realise how much the things they do each day are benefiting their child.
So, what are the day-to-day activities that dads and others who care for young children can do to aid language development?
THE BEST PLACE IS FACE-TO-FACE
As little as five minutes of face-to-face interaction per day can have a huge benefit for younger children. You could be playing on the floor, sitting at the dinner table, or out for a walk. It all helps!
SING A RHYME AT ANY TIME
It doesn’t matter if you’re singing “twinkle, twinkle”, or something funny that dad thought up himself. Simple, fun rhymes are a great way to build confidence and language skills. Adding actions or names into the mix helps even more.
TALK AND PLAY EVERY DAY
Daily routines can easily be turned into opportunities to engage with your child with fun games. Tasks like unloading the washing machine can be a chance to play with sock puppets, while a trip to the supermarket can be an opportunity to play a game of “I spy”.
LOOKING AT BOOKS TOGETHER
Sharing books with children sparks their imagination and helps them associate words with what they see. They don’t need to be able to read with you, and you don’t even need to read the words on the page to them just talking about the pictures in a book can be enough to get them interested and build on vital skills.
TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN SEE
Talking about the things you can see when you’re at home, out for a walk, or even from looking out the window of a bus all helps to develop communication skills. For each time you ask your child what they can see around them, try to tell them the things that you can see yourself.
TURNING ‘SCREEN TIME’ INTO ‘YOU AND ME’ TIME
Watching programmes on a TV or tablet with your children can help them learn new words and develop their imagination. Try talking with them about what you can see on the screen. Encouraging them to tell you about their favourite character’s adventures is a great way for them to practise their communication skills.
ADDING A WORD TO THE CONVERSATION
Helping to build your child’s vocabulary is as simple as adding an extra word or two to what your child has said. If they say “car”, use words like “it’s a big car” or, “the car is driving fast”. Try to think beyond just using colours and numbers to describe things. Their teddy could be “fluffy”, “small”, “waving”.