Many children struggle to communicate well because they are not taught how to communicate, they are not valued as communicators, or their environments do not provide a model for understanding communication.
Communication is a dynamic activity that follows many complex social and cultural rules and etiquette. In this context communication is about the social exchange of ideas and the not the mechanics or ability to produce speech or formulate words from ideas.
In essence we communicate ideas and concepts through speech, facial expression, gesture, intonation of voice and so on. To bring meaning and engage the listener to our words we combine facts, stories, experiences and appropriate energy to the content and situation by moderating the rhythm, volume, pace and intensity of our speech. A wide vocabulary is particularly beneficial. Through children's language and communication experiences at home and amongst their family, friends and school life, children will have a sense of how well they communicate and how people respond to them by a early age. This perception, positive or negative, can carry on a long way through their life.
If children are raised in environments where there is little opportunity to engage in communicating with their peers and adults then they can lack experience in assimilating the complex nuances involved in communication. When children are repeatedly talked at, under exposed to positive adult role models and passively engage in communication as in TV, they will struggle to develop an instinctive understanding of how to communicate.
Conversely, when a social environment is positively geared towards respecting, valuing, sharing and attending to children's communication, then they generally flourish and become confident communicators. An environment that combines children actively exploring ideas and expressing these through language in a social group and guiding children to a wider vocabulary, role modeling and actively teaching them communication skills, are important ways to develop communication.
The products from Every Body Active are all designed with developing communication. Each session is interwoven with expressing ideas and concepts and increasing a wider used vocabulary.