By Susan "Dr. Suzy" Hendler Lederer, PhD, CCC-SLP Associate Professor, Communication Sciences & Disorders Adelphi University

Beyond Brown Bear: The best books to encourage early vocabulary development

It is now widely understood that language and literacy are inextricably related, developing together from birth. Oral language skills, including vocabulary and grammar/syntax development, form the foundation for story comprehension and story telling. In addition to oral language skills, the National Commission on Reading proclaimed that shared storybook reading is the single most important activity for promoting reading success. Reading picture books with children who have language delays provides opportunities to integrate shared book reading and early vocabulary goals into one context. Such a program is vital to promoting early vocabulary and literacy development.

Early vocabulary development research teaches that children learn new vocabulary words through multiple exposures of the word paired with descriptive, conceptual information. For example, to learn the word "dog," children must hear the word when a real dog or a picture is present and be taught that he is an animal who says "woof." Then, the child needs opportunities to practice using this word when he sees the animal or the picture.

In language therapy, we use an evidence based technique called "Focused Language Stimulation" to provide multiple exposures to target vocabulary words. Each new word is modeled five to ten times in a natural context before moving on to another new word. "This is a dog. The dog says 'woof.' Hi dog. Woof. Bye dog. Woof. The dog says 'woof.'" Focused language stimulation does not require us to elicit the word "dog" from the child, but another well-researched therapy technique, milieu teaching, may be an effective supplement. After modeling the target multiple times, we ask, "Who says 'woof?'"

So, which books use focused language stimulation and encourage active participation? Suppose we want the child to learn to say "duck." Would you choose Brown Bear, Brown Bear or Five Little Ducks ? Of course, you all realize the better choice is Five Little Ducks . The word "duck" is repeated at least 15 times in this story versus four times in Brown Bear . Then what early vocabulary word is Brown Bear great for? "Me," of course, which is repeated on each page.

Both Brown Bear and Five Little Ducks encourage active participation. The repetitive nature of the stories helps children to learn them and they soon engage actively in the reading. (It also doesn't hurt that both of these books also can be set to music. Music adds motivation, another important element in learning theory.)

After spending my career adapting children's books to address early vocabulary goals, I authored, I Can Say That and I Can Do That . Both books contain two stories with carefully selected early vocabulary words (nouns in the former, verbs in the latter). Focused stimulation, reader-child interaction, and praise are built right in. When parents read these books, they are doing therapy without even having to be taught! Best of all, you will not need to adapt other books on your shelf!

Parents
Whether your child is working on communication through gestures, such as waving bye-bye or blowing a kiss, speaking/signing his first words or combining two words together, practicing pre-literacy skills like rhyming, or learning to read, I Can Say That and I Can Do That are specifically designed to support your child's learning.

I Can Say That targets animal names and their sounds, as well as greeting words like "hi" and "bye." I Can Do That helps children use gestures to communicate, practice early verbs, combine two words together, as well as get ready to read. Both books use well-researched techniques to help children learn. These include imitation of gestures/signs, multiple repetitions of each target word, requests for participation by the child, and praise.

Both books contain a CD-Rom manual that provides information about what skills are targeted, how to read the book, and ideas for extension activities including downloadable pictures to color. In addition, the story is narrated in both English and Spanish.

These books were created for you by a speech-language pathologist and college professor with over 25 years of clinical and research experience, I Can Say That has won both an iParenting award and a gold Mom's Choice Award. By reading either of these books, you are doing language therapy! So read with joy and watch what happens!