Continuing along through our exploration of core family values and their importance I thought today we’d discuss self-expression. Simply put, self-expression is the ability to express one’s thoughts and feelings. These expressions can be accomplished through words, choices or actions. This can be done in a variety of ways; verbally, physically, artistically, spiritually, etc. As a core value, self-expression can help you reflect on life, actions, relationships, beliefs and thoughts.
Think about it. If you weren’t able to express yourself, then things would get buried, deep down, and could lead to being unhappy, unfulfilled, miserable. Emotions get bottled up and out of nowhere you may snap or explode because you haven’t been able to express what you are feeling.
Self-Expression
In today’s world we see a lot of self-expression all over social media. Some choose to show their expression through the clothes they wear, others decide to express themselves through their hair color, or body art. And still others express themselves through a variety of artistic medium and endeavors.
Demonstrating that self-expression is valued can have a positive impact on your child’s mental health and social emotional wellness. In fact, encouraging your family to express themselves can lead to better communication, collaboration and community with others
So where does self-expression begin?
If we really think about it, the art of verbal self-expression has a lot to do with language and vocabulary. Having the words within your repertoire to be able to verbally state your feelings, beliefs or thoughts. And through the process of stringing thoughts and beliefs together we engage in conversation.
One of the ways that we can encourage the development of self-expression is through the development of our child’s vocabulary and language skills. In her article from Positive Psychology, Courtney E. Ackerman. MA, lists a variety of ways to promote the development of self-expression including “working on the art of conversation”.
Ok, so we should encourage conversations with our kids. But how do we start this? Where do we even begin? What if your child is an infant, what then? How are you going to encourage a conversation with a child that is non-verbal?
When the Learning Begins
Well, if we think about it, infants are developing their vocabulary from the moment they are born. What may begin to them as sounds of vowels and consonants eventually turns into words that they become familiar with. When you ask an 8-month-old where mommy is, they not only know who mommy is but they understand that that word is specifically associated with that woman.
Whether you realize it or not, your infant has been developing their vocabulary daily simply by listening to the words that you say. When it’s time to feed you most likely mention that to your infant. “It’s time for a bottle”. Your child is now beginning to associate the word bottle with feeding. When you tell them it’s time for a bath and then undress them and put them in the tub, they are learning what bath means.
Learning the Sounds
At first, the development of language and vocabulary is really an indirect process. It doesn’t happen the way it does later in life when we sit down to make a specific association with one word and its meaning. Rather, we learn about words through context and sounds.
Some words are easier to learn early in life because not only are they essential (mama, dada, go) but they are also simple words that use the sounds a child is learning how to speak. What initially begins as imitation, develops into vocabulary.
Learning the Words
Once a child reaches the age of 1 they most likely have a couple of words in their vocabulary. Words are learned in various steps…first the child is exposed to the word, then the child begins to understand what the words means before they eventually begin to use the word themselves.
They may not say the correct term – for example, they may say ‘wawa’ for ‘water’ – but there is an understanding among the child and their caregiver as to what the sounds mean. The child’s needs are met and as time continues, the sounds become more refined and more closely resemble the actual word. By the time a child is 2 they should have at least 100-200 words in their vocabulary.
Language & Vocabulary
Now here comes the interesting part of language that I’d like to touch on for a moment. The concept of language is split into 2 parts: receptive language (what the child understands) and expressive language (what the child can say). Just because a child is not saying 100 words does not mean that those words are not in their vocabulary.
Take my son, T (2 ½) for example. At 20 months old he was not ‘speaking’ more than 5 words, but he understood everything that was said to him . Now I put ‘speaking’ in quotation marks because although he made sounds, nothing really sounded like the actual word he was trying to say. But he understood everything. I could ask him to go to his bedroom and get his book and bring it back to me and he would do it.
His vocabulary in terms of the words he knew and understood was immense. But he wasn’t producing the sounds to make the words that he needed to be saying…and I knew, that as he continued to get older, this lack of expressive language would eventually have a negative impact on his behavior and just on him in general. So we put him in speech therapy. No biggie. His ability to express himself now compared to when we started speech therapy is so monumental. It really has been a game changer for him and in turn for our family.
Continuing to Grow
There’s a funny thing about vocabulary, it doesn’t stop growing simply because a child starts talking. Rather vocabulary is something that will continue to expand throughout your life. Heck, I’ll be the first to admit that I am still learning the meaning of words today and I am no spring chicken.
So, what are some ways that we can encourage the continued growth of our child’s vocabulary?
1. Read with your child
What starts as reading to your child will eventually morph into reading with your child. Remember that vocabulary development starts indirectly, which implies that your child is beginning to understand the meanings of words simply by hearing them and by hearing them in context. Young children can even learn to associate words with images through picture books. Say the word as you point to the picture in the book. It can help make the connection for your child.
2. Follow your child’s lead
Watch your child play. Do they enjoy playing in the kitchen? That can be the perfect opportunity to introduce them to words that you use in the kitchen such as mix, stir, open, close. Do they like playing with cars? Looks like a great time to use words such as push, fast, and slow.
3. Help them understand new words in simple ways
Children need to learn the child definition of a word. Simple, to the point. A child knows what it means to go fast. Suddenly someone uses the word quick. Redirect that back to going fast. If repeated enough and used in context, a child will begin to make the association between fast and quick. Simple explanation, simple use, connection made.
4. Show them what words mean
We’ve discussed it before…not all kids learn the same way. One child may hear a word used in context and immediately know what it means. Another child may need a visual cue to help them figure out what the word means. When teaching a child what angry looks like, make the face, draw the face, show them pictures of the face. There are plenty of ways to show what a word means that may help them understand.
5. Talk to your kids
When they’re infants you can narrate what you’re doing so they can begin to learn some new words. As they get older and can speak, have conversations with them; you may be surprised at what they say. The other day P (4 ½ years old) was jumping on a trampoline with her dad when suddenly she said “Daddy don’t do that. Don’t go too high. When you do that it makes my throat hurt and I feel scared.” I was so pleased with the conversation and her ability to express herself. She used new words in appropriate ways. It was great.
Lifelong Learning
I know that we think of vocabulary simply as the words we know, but one of the reasons it is so important in early childhood is because it has a great impact on your child’s ability to express themselves verbally. As they grow, the words that they know will allow them to speak their minds, express their feelings and verbalize their beliefs. True, we may not always love or even like what we hear, but the fact that they are able to verbally express themselves will have such a positive impact on their social emotional health and the health and well-being of your family.
So, go ahead and start helping your child develop their vocabulary today. Talk to them, read with them, sing with them, play with them! If you have an infant, it may not seem important now or feel like you are doing anything meaningful. But you are!!!! Just know, it will all make an impact in their development of self-expression as they continue to grow. 😊
Don’t forget to grab your FREE resource handout on Self-Expression through development of language here!!!!