Language stimulation in childcare
A climate where positive relationships are central and where there is attention to rich and understandable language provision is essential for young children's development. The research project 'In Dialogue About Language' explored how child supervisors in pre-school childcare can be supported to apply language-stimulating advice in their daily interactions with young children.
Method
The researchers developed a work supervision method for language stimulation with toddlers and tried it out in eight nurseries. They made video recordings before and after the work supervision, worked with a research log to compile participants' and researchers' experiences, and organised focus discussions.
Results
The comparative analysis of the video footage shows that attention to language stimulation made participants more alert to the educational and emotional support of young children. The analysis of the focus discussions and the research log made it clear that support is desirable in both the content area (what is good language stimulation?) and the methodical area (how to work with supervisors around the issue of language?).
Based on the research findings, the researchers were able to refine the method and eventually developed the work supervision package ‘Allemaal taal. Taal stimuleren en ontwikkelen bij jonge kinderen’ (Abimo, 2014).
Partners
This PWO project was a collaboration with the Karel De Grote-Hogeschool(Antwerp).
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