As children grow, they’re expected to develop a range of complex expressive language abilities that are essential for effective communication and academic success. These skills include developing oral narratives, asking and answering "WH" questions, and verbal reasoning; however, some children experience difficulties in these areas. Understanding the challenges and how to address them is crucial for providing these children with support.

Developing Oral Narratives

Oral narratives, or storytelling, are a critical aspect of language development as they enable children to share experiences, convey information, and engage in social interactions. Developing oral narratives involves:

• Sequencing Events: Learning to organise their thoughts and present events in a logical order.
• Using Descriptive Language: Using adjectives and adverbs to create vivid descriptions.
• Maintaining a Theme: Staying on topic and ensuring stories have a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Children with difficulties in developing oral narratives often struggle with organising their thoughts and may leave out important details or jumble events. This can be due to limitations in working memory, difficulty with language structure, or a lack of exposure to storytelling.

Asking and Answering “WH” Questions

"WH" questions (who, what, where, when, why, and how) are fundamental to effective communication and learning. These questions help children gather information, understand concepts, and engage in conversations. Developing this ability involves:

Children who have difficulties with "WH" questions may struggle with comprehension, memory retrieval, or expressive language skills. They might provide incomplete or irrelevant answers, indicating a need for targeted support in these areas.

Developing Verbal Reasoning

Verbal reasoning is the ability to understand and reason using concepts framed in words. It involves:

Children with challenges in verbal reasoning might find it hard to understand idioms, metaphors, or abstract concepts. They may also struggle with tasks that require them to predict outcomes or explain their reasoning, which can affect their academic performance and social interactions.

Why do some children struggle?

Several factors can contribute to difficulties in these complex expressive language abilities, such as:

• Language Delays: Some children naturally develop language skills at a slower pace.
• Learning Disabilities: Conditions like dyslexia or auditory processing disorders can impact language development.
• Environmental Factors: Limited exposure to rich language experiences at home or in educational settings can hinder language growth.
• Neurological Differences: Variations in brain development or function can affect language processing and expression.

How to support your child at home

Parents can support their child's language development with these strategies:

1. Encourage Storytelling: Prompt your child to tell stories about their day or make up their own tales; use picture books as a starting point and ask them to describe the images.

2. Practice "WH" Questions: Incorporate "WH" questions into daily routines by asking your child about their favourite activities, what they did in school, or why they like a particular toy.

3. Play Verbal Reasoning Games: Engage in games that require verbal reasoning, such as guessing games, riddles, or discussing the moral of a story.

For parents seeking structured and effective ways to support their child's language development, our Developing Language (Lower Primary) tool kit offers a comprehensive set of resources. This tool kit includes fun and easy-to-use activities designed to enhance oral narratives, "WH" questions, and verbal reasoning skills. These activities can be seamlessly integrated into your daily routines and are an excellent complement to any existing therapy programs.