Abracadabra - Words Really Are Magic

Part Four: The Emotional Life of the Toddler

One of the key developmental accomplishments for toddlers is communication through language. As children move into the second year of life, they begin to grasp the concept that words stand for objects and alter the even more complex concept that words can also stand for ideas and feelings. Many things go into helping this process develop. The stream of language from loving caregivers around the child is the most important.

Extending Kindermusik activities into the home with home materials such as literature books and music CDs not only reinforces the development of language, but also provides a loving ritual between parent and child.

Also helpful is the opportunity to play with toys -- which, after all, are small representations of larger objects, or symbols. A doll standing for a real baby helps pave the way for a word standing for a real object. Exploration Time in Kindermusik class is one example of associating language with objects.

Another element that contributes to language development, of course, is music. As children "tune in" to the elements of pitch, rhythm, contour, repetition and variation, they are learning to focus on the key elements of language. They are also learning about the pleasurable possibilities inherent in the human voice, and about how sounds carry meaning. For example, in the Our Time curriculum, songs with vocal play are fun for children to sing, but are also helping them develop essential language skills. As children grasp these concepts, they fall in love with the magic of language and the joy of being able to communicate their thoughts and needs through speech.