Importance of receptive language in childhood development
What is receptive language
Receptive language means understanding information that has a verbal meaning that has been learned through spoken language, as well as the written language.
It is the ability to understand words and concepts that are spoken to you.
This skill starts developing in infancy and continues to develop throughout childhood and into adulthood.
A child’s receptive language skills or lack of has wide-ranging ramifications.
It can impact a child’s ability to follow instructions, participate in classroom activities, make friends, and be successful in school.
There are many different ways that parents and caregivers can help support and develop a child’s receptive language skills.
One way is by reading aloud to children every day starting at infancy.
This shared reading experience helps promote language development.
It also helps children learn about the world around them and how to use and understand language.
Another way to support receptive language development is by engaging in conversations with children.
This can be done by asking questions, listening to their answers, and providing feedback.
This back-and-forth exchange helps promote language skills.
It is a critical communication technique that allows young children to understand directions and activities and build social skills.
Examples of receptive language
For toddlers
Receptive language includes understanding words that are spoken to them such as understanding words like “mommy,” “daddy,” “dog,” and “cat.”
It is also identifying objects and beginning to understand basic concepts like colors, shapes, and numbers as well as following basic instructions like “Please give me the ball.”
For teenagers
Receptive language includes understanding more complex concepts, as well as being able to carry on a conversation with others and giving instructions.
It includes understanding more complex words, grammar forms and concepts such as “social studies,” “algebra,” and “metaphor” and beginning to communicate successfully.
For adults
Receptive language includes understanding even more complex concepts, using right grammar forms as well as being able to read and write.
It includes understanding even more complex words and concepts such as “mitosis,” “parliamentary procedure,” and “nominalization.”
Also being able to understand a wide variety of topics, as well as maintain a conversation with someone from a different background.
How Receptive Language Develops
During the first year of life, babies start to develop receptive language skills.
They learn to recognize the sound and rhythms of speech and begin to match them with the movement of their mouths.
Receptive language begins to develop in infancy when babies start to understand the spoken words of their parents and caregivers.
This process continues throughout toddlerhood and into grade school, as children learn to understand more and more complex concepts and ideas.
One way receptive language develops is by infants and toddlers hearing stories and being read to regularly.
This helps them learn the meanings of new words and develop their vocabulary.
Additionally, children learn receptive language best by engaging in conversations with others.
As they listen to others speak, they learn to understand the nuances of language, including tone of voice and facial expressions.
By the end of their first year, babies can usually understand simple commands such as “Come here” or “No no.”
As they continue to grow, they learn more words and begin to put them together into short phrases.
By age 2 or 3, most children can follow two-step commands such as “Pick up your toys and put them in the toy box.”
Why Receptive Language Is Important
Receptive language skills are important for several reasons.
- they provide the foundation for expressive language skills, which are the ability to use words and concepts that are understood
- receptive language skills help children learn new information in school and communicate effectively with others
- receptive language skills are predictive of later academic achievement
- good receptive language skills are associated with social competence and fewer behavioural issues
Receptive language challenges for children
One of the key roles of receptive language is to help children learn and understand new information.
When a child struggles with receptive language, it can be more difficult for them to learn in school and build strong academic skills.
Since receptive language is so important for understanding the world around us, difficulty with this skill can also lead to emotional problems.
Children may feel frustrated or left out when they can’t understand what others are saying, and this can lead to social isolation.
It’s therefore very important for children to have strong receptive language skills to ensure their intellectual and emotional development.
Some examples of receptive language challenges for children:
- One common receptive language challenge for young children is understanding the difference between similar words. For example, they have trouble understanding the difference between “bat” and “pat” which can be difficult for some children.
- Another is understanding the meaning of words in a sentence. For instance, understanding that “I have a cat” means that the speaker has one pet cat can be difficult for some children.
- Comprehending complex grammar structures can be a challenge for some children. For example, understanding the difference between “The dog is brown” and “A dog is brown” can be difficult for some kids.
- For some children with receptive language issues following multi-step directions is a challenge. This can be difficult for them because they may have difficulty understanding the individual steps in a sequence.
- Difficulty in understanding idiomatic expressions and figurative language. These phrases can be confusing for kids because they don’t always make literal sense.
- Difficulty understanding word meanings that are specific to certain contexts. For example, the word “bank” has multiple definitions, one of which is a financial institution. A child with receptive language issues may not understand the context of this word when it is used in conversation.
What is the difference between receptive and expressive language?
Receptive language is the ability to understand words and concepts that are spoken to you.
This skill starts developing in infancy and continues to develop throughout childhood and into adulthood.
Expressive language, on the other hand, is the ability to use words and communicate your thoughts and feelings.
Say, it is being able to write grammatically correct responses.
This skill also starts developing in infancy but continues to grow throughout childhood and into adulthood.
Importance of young adults having highly developed receptive and expressive language skills
One of the most important reasons why young adults need to have highly developed receptive and expressive language skills is so that they can effectively communicate with others.
Communication is essential in all aspects of life, from personal relationships to professional networking.
To have successful relationships and achieve one’s goals, it is important to be able to communicate effectively.
Language skills are critical in this process.
What are the two receptive language skills?
There are two receptive language skills-listening (receptive grammar) and comprehension (receptive vocabulary)
Listening comprehension
It is the ability to understand the structure of words, and what is being said by following along with the conversation and piecing together the meaning of the words.
In other words, it is to be able to:
- follow directions
- understand the nuances of language and participate in conversations
- learn and retain information
Vocabulary
It is the ability to understand the meaning of words, specifically using them correctly in sentences and responding appropriately to questions.
In other words, it is to be able to:
- learn and remember the meaning of words especially complex text
- use words correctly in sentences ie express oneself clearly and effectively
- identify new words when hearing or reading them
How to improve expressive and receptive language skills
For children
Children can improve their receptive language skills by attending language classes or by interacting with others who are fluent in the language they are learning.
They can also improve their expressive language skills by listening to stories, singing songs and participating in conversations with others.
For teenagers
Teens can improve their receptive language skills by reading books and articles in the language they are learning and watching movies and television shows with subtitles.
They can also improve their expressive language skills by writing essays, stories and poems in the new language.
For adults
Adults can improve their receptive language skills by reading books and articles in the language they are learning and watching movies and television shows with subtitles.
They can also improve their expressive language skills by other forms of creative writing; speaking in public, and communicating their ideas and thoughts to others as well as taking classes to improve their fluency.
Conclusion
Receptive language is a critical skill for development that starts in infancy.
Education specialists and parents need to be aware of ways to help develop this skill as it sets the foundation for many others including expressive language, academic achievement, social competence, etc.
Also, expressive language development may look different for every child, but providing a speech-rich environment is a good way to encourage development for all children.
