Children are great mimics. When you tell stories, your child will begin to tell stories, too. What to do:
- Have your child tell stories like those you have told. Then ask, “And then what happened?” to urge the story along.
- Listen closely when your child speaks. Be enthusiastic and responsive.
- If you don’t understand some part of the story, take the time to get your child to explain. This will help him understand the relationship between a speaker and a listener and an author and a reader.
- Encourage your child to express herself. This will help her develop a wide vocabulary. It can also help with pronouncing words clearly. Having a good audience is very helpful for a child to improve language skills, as well as poise in speaking. You can be the best audience your child will ever have! Source: Helping Your Child Learn to Read, U.S. Department of Education