Learning with Little Hands

  Flourishing Language in Kindergarten Readiness - Nurturing Language in Children Aged 48 to 60 Months Fluent Speech and Academic Readiness From 48 to 60 months, children’s language abilities flourish. They use complex sentences, understand grammar rules, and communicate ideas clearly. They begin to grasp story structures, emotions, and relationships, preparing them for reading and writing. https://youtu.be/CWpNrlB11hk What to Expect - Retells familiar stories in correct order - Uses descriptive and emotional vocabulary - Follows 3-step directions - Begins recognizing letters, rhymes, and sight words https://youtu.be/glzWl0qOTww https://youtu.be/CWpNrlB11hk   Tips for Parents & EAs ✅ Encourage storytelling and journaling (draw a picture and describe it) ✅ Play rhyming and letter-sound games ✅ Ask questions that require reasoning: “Why do you think she felt that way?” ✅ Create a print-rich environment with signs, labels, and books ...

  Language Growth in Preschoolers - Nurturing Language in Children Aged 36 to 48 Months Sophisticated Sentences & Creative Expression Between 36 to 48 months, children’s language becomes more complex. They express detailed thoughts, use grammar rules, and tell imaginative stories. https://youtu.be/OHirbvmpgPw Speech is clearer, vocabulary grows into the thousands, and kids begin understanding abstract concepts and emotions. What to Expect - Uses longer sentences with proper grammar (e.g., past tense, plurals) - Asks and answers “why” and “how” questions - Follows multi-step directions - Engages in back-and-forth conversations and storytelling https://youtu.be/vQzHcXgoyJs   Tips for Parents & EAs ✅ Encourage open-ended questions like “What do you think will happen next?” ✅ Read a variety of books—stories, facts, rhymes ✅ Expand on what they say: Child: “I saw a dog.” → Adult: “Oh! A big brown dog? What was it doing?” ✅ Support pretend play and let them lead storytel...

  Hi! I’m Seoyoon Lee , an Education Assistant and loving parent based in beautiful Vancouver. With a passion for supporting young learners—especially those with unique needs—I created Joyful Vancouver to share insights on language development and early literacy . This blog offers: 🗣️ Age-specific language milestones 📚 Evidence-based strategies for home and classroom 💬 Simple tips to support speech and communication ❤️ Real-life reflections from my journey as an EA and parent As an Education Assistant, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful language can be in helping children connect, express, and grow. Let’s explore how to nurture every child’s voice—together, with joy.

  The Magic of Words - How Children Aged 18 to 36 Months Learn to Speak From First Words to Full Sentences Between 18 to 36 months, toddlers experience what many call a language explosion. They move from two-word phrases to full, expressive sentences that reflect their growing thoughts, feelings, and imagination. What to Expect Age Language Development Milestone 18–24 Months Uses 2- to 3-word phrases like “want toy” or “go park.” Vocabulary may reach 100+ words. 24–30 Months Begins asking simple questions (“What’s that?”), naming actions, and talking during play. 30–36 Months Forms full sentences, uses pronouns like “I,” “me,” and tells short stories. Asks “why” often! 🎥 Video Example – 2-Year-Old Sentence Development: https://youtu.be/d3zTdC0B_hs Why This Stage Matters This is a critical window for cognitive and social growth. Language becomes a tool to: - Make req...

  How Babies Start to Talk - From Babble to Sentences (8 to 18 Months)   A Magical Beginning: The First Words Between 8 to 18 months, babies go through an incredible journey in language development. They shift from simple babbling to saying their first real words—and even forming tiny sentences! Language Milestones in This Stage Age Language Milestone 8 Months Begins babbling like “baba,” “dada.” Mimics adult tone and rhythm. 12 Months Says simple words like “mama,” “ball,” or “bye-bye.” Understands basic instructions. 18 Months Vocabulary may exceed 50 words. Starts forming two-word phrases like “more juice,” “go park.” 🎥 Video Baby Talking at 12 Months: https://youtube.com/shorts/uuQgMlEpmdo?si=N_bSWmKQopvKlTyu Why This Stage Matters This phase lays the foundation for communication and literacy. Children begin to use language to: - Ask for what they need (“mil...

    Welcome to our deep dive into how children develop language! From the influence of meaning and social context to bilingualism and developmental delays, this blog explores key insights from Robert E. Owens’  Language Development: An Introduction .   Whether you're a student, educator, or curious parent, you'll find valuable knowledge here. Title: How Children Learn to Speak — Insights into Language Development Cover of  Language Development: An Introduction  by Robert E. Owens, Jr. A foundational text exploring how children acquire and use language from infancy through adolescence 🎯  Introduction Language development in children is a fascinating journey shaped by meaning, social interaction, and cognitive growth. Drawing from Robert E. Owens’  Language Development: An Introduction , this blog explores four essential topics: how semantics and pragmatics influence syntax, individual differences and delays in development, bilingual acquisiti...