During a recent visit with a friend and her almost two-year-old grandson, Jack, I had the chance to observe him at play. One object that caught his attention was a snow globe. As he watched the “snow” swirl inside the glass sphere, he turned to his grandmother and asked, “What’s that?”. This simple question, so typical of toddlers, reminded me of their innate curiosity and desire to understand the world around them. As a speech-language pathologist, I see such questions as powerful tools that trigger a cascade of dialogue, exploration, and comprehension between a child and their caregiver. These interactions are crucial during the formative years of language development. In just two words, Jack demonstrated a thirst for knowledge that will soon lead him to rapidly expand his vocabulary and understanding of the world around him. This is the essence of early language development and the focus of our work in speech therapy. Welcome to our website, where we explore the power of communication and the role of inquiry in language development.
The Power of "What's That?": Fostering Curiosity in Early Language Learners
Cultivating Curiosity and Discovery through Exploration
Research underscores the role of curiosity in fostering learning and cognitive and communicative development in young children. When a child, like Jack, asks “What’s that?”, it’s a manifestation of their inherent desire to learn about the names and functions of things that pique their interest. This drive to explore and question forms the bedrock of knowledge acquisition.
Curiosity paves the way for dynamic interactions between the child and caregiver, centered around mutual engagement with objects and ideas. For instance, Jack’s curiosity about the snow globe transformed it into a shared subject of conversation. The reciprocal naming of the globe’s parts and the enactment of concepts like “shake” fostered a connection that extended beyond mere vocabulary enhancement.
Inquisitiveness also presents opportunities for hands-on exploration of how things work. When Jack inverted the globe and observed the flurry of faux snow inside, he was able to discern its physical properties firsthand. Encouraging him to satisfy his curiosity through interactive exploration, rather than merely providing explanations, facilitates learning in a way that is developmentally appropriate for him. Studies show that learning through self-directed discovery, supported by caregiver assistance, has a more enduring impact on cognitive development in early childhood than direct instruction alone.
By expressing curiosity about an unknown object with the question “What’s that?”, Jack exemplifies the typical toddler’s drive to assign names and meanings to their surroundings. Cultivating this innate desire to learn sets the stage for exponential language development in the future. This is the essence of our work in speech therapy, where we harness the power of curiosity to unlock the world of communication for young minds.
The Power of "What's That?"
In my years as a speech-language pathologist specializing in early childhood intervention, I’ve repeatedly observed how curiosity acts as a crucial marker of typical development in toddlers. When a toddler like Jack intentionally examines an unfamiliar object and inquires, “What’s that?”, he is not only seeking its name and purpose but also demonstrating that his communication skills are developing in tandem with his cognitive abilities. This exploratory impulse to make sense of the world stimulates neural pathways essential for language acquisition.
Naturally, the caregiver’s reciprocal involvement in responding to questions and demonstrating a sense of wonder further kindles the child’s curiosity. However, there are instances where a lack of interest or motivation to engage with new items could indicate potential developmental delays that require evaluation. By fostering curiosity, we are essentially tapping into the toddler’s inherent desire for knowledge, thereby laying the groundwork for significant future progress across all developmental domains. This is the heart of our work in speech therapy, where we harness the power of curiosity to unlock the world of communication for young minds.
Some ways to foster curiosity in toddlers...
Theme-Based Play: An effective strategy to ignite a child’s curiosity is through theme-based play during speech therapy sessions. For instance, you could introduce a snow globe-themed play session for a child named Jack. Let him explore the snow globe and encourage him to ask questions about it. This approach not only stimulates his curiosity but also enhances his language development as he articulates his thoughts and queries.
Interactive Toys: Toys that require interaction, such as puzzles, building blocks, and interactive storybooks, are excellent tools for fostering curiosity. These toys can be used during therapy sessions to facilitate conversation and language development. For example, while constructing a tower with blocks, engage the child with questions like “What color block do you want next?” or “How many blocks are in your tower?”
Exploration of Nature and Everyday Objects: Leverage a child’s natural curiosity about their surroundings during speech therapy sessions. Incorporate activities like nature walks or simple explorations of everyday objects. Discussing the colors, shapes, and textures of leaves collected during a nature walk, for instance, can stimulate the child’s curiosity and introduce new vocabulary and concepts.
Encourage Questioning: Parents play a crucial role in nurturing curiosity at home. Encourage your child to ask questions about anything and everything. Respond enthusiastically to all their questions, regardless of their complexity. For example, if your child asks, “Why is the sky blue?” provide a simple and engaging explanation of light scattering.
Provide New Experiences: Expose your child to a range of experiences and environments. Visits to museums, parks, and zoos can introduce them to new sights, sounds, and ideas. These outings can be excellent opportunities for curiosity-driven language development. Engage them with open-ended questions like “What do you think that animal eats?” or “How does this machine work?”
Read Together: Reading with your child is a wonderful way to stimulate their curiosity and language development. Choose engaging books and encourage discussions. Ask questions like “What do you think will happen next?” or “Can you find something red on this page?” This not only expands their vocabulary but also cultivates critical thinking skills.
Conclusion: The central goal in speech therapy for toddlers is to foster curiosity, as it engages them in the process and promotes language development. Strategies such as theme-based play, interactive toys, real-world experiences, encouraging questioning, and reading together effectively nurture a child’s curiosity. Parents and speech therapists can collaborate to create an environment that encourages children to ask questions and explore, ultimately supporting their language development journey.
And other questions...
Certainly, here are some examples of questions a 2-3 year old might ask, with two examples for each:
Why?
- “Why is the dog wagging its tail?” (Understanding animal behavior)
- “Why do I have to go to bed now?” (Understanding daily routines)
How?
- “How does the toy car move?” (Understanding mechanisms)
- “How does the light turn on?” (Understanding everyday phenomena)
What does this do?
- “What does this knob do on my toy kitchen?” (Understanding the function of objects)
- “What does this big button do on my teddy bear?” (Exploring interactive toys)
When?
- “When will we go to the park?” (Understanding the concept of time)
- “When will grandma come to visit?” (Grasping future events)
Where?
- “Where does the sun go at night?” (Understanding natural phenomena)
- “Where is my teddy bear?” (Locating personal items)
Can I?
- “Can I feed the ducks at the pond?” (Requesting permission to interact)
- “Can I paint with the blue paint?” (Expressing personal preferences)