Make Your Kid A Genius!

How to Awaken Your Child's Innate Intelligence

Irene Helen Zundel, Editor, artwhiz@greenepa.net

Welcome to a Special Edition of the "Make your Kid a Genius" newsletter!
This issue features noted speech and language pathologist and author, Laura Dyer.
Her upcoming book, "Look Who's Talking: How to Enhance your Child's Language Development
Starting at Birth", is being published by Meadowbrook Press, in March 2004.

Here is a recent interview I had with Ms. Dyer:

IHZ: Laura, congratulations on your upcoming book! Some of my readers may be unfamiliar with
you and your work. Could you give us a brief personal and professional profile, please?

Thank you. I'd be glad to Irene. I have a Master's in Communication Disorders and attended
Florida State University and Auburn University. I worked for nine years with both children and
adults before beginning my own family of two little ones. I began to develop educational books
to educate parents and music to use with their children during my lengthened maternity leave.

IHZ: Look Who's Talking is actually your second venture as an author. Could you tell us a little
about your first book, and its companion music CD?

My first book was called Little Language for Little Ones and I produced an accompanying 40-minute
CD of Little Language Songs. I have a very musical background as well. My husband and I wrote the
lyrics and I put them to song. I performed and played on the CD with the help of young voices and
many talented musicians. Each song was developed with a specific speech and/or language goal in
mind. The book and music received national reviews and won an award last year.

To read a review of Laura's first book and music CD, click here:
http://www.greenepa.net/~artwhiz/newsletter4.htm

IHZ: Is your new book an expanded version of the first, or are you breaking new ground with this one?

Look Who's Talking is an expanded version of my previous book. It adds 200 pages of practical
information to the existing topics plus a wide array of new topics. Look Who's Talking will actually
replace Little Language for Little Ones. It will also be a companion to the music CD because it
contains the lyrics to the songs in the appendix.

IHZ: One chapter of your book that I found very interesting was devoted to the use of sign language with
babies--even if they aren't hearing impaired. Could you tell my readers why you feel signing is beneficial
in teaching young children to communicate?

There are numerous benefits to using sign language with a typically developing infant. Sign language
helps reduce frustration during the toddler years by helping the child be able to express his needs
with signs before he might be able to verbalize a word. It also helps hearing children learn language
concepts, letter awareness, and pre-literacy skills. Signing builds vocabulary and cognition and
absolutely does not hinder or delay use of verbal communication in any way.

IHZ: In your book, you also talk about bilingual children, and teaching English to children adopted from
foreign countries. Isn't it confusing for children to master another language at an early age?
If not, when is the optimum time to introduce a second language?

Actually, the earlier the better. Children are born with the ability to learn more than one language.
Introducing two languages at the same time is often the easiest way to promote bilingualism in a
child. Like any skill, it must be nourished to continue to maintain bilingualism in the years to come.
I encourage families to find out as much about bilingualism and language development as they can.
This chapter is a good start and answers many common questions parents have. It helps to have
a real plan on how you intend to carry out a goal of bilingualism

What are the benefits of early bilinguilism?

Early bilingualism promotes a more native-like pronunciation of the language. Also, multi-lingual
children have good abstract and logical reasoning skills and seem to have a jump-start on many
pre-literacy concepts. Bilingualism challenges our brains and builds cognition. Children who start
early and continue with both languages can master complex language skills like the ability to translate
effortlessly.

IHZ: I am glad you addressed the issue of nurturing pre-literacy skills in young children. Being a good
reader is so important to later success in school and life in general. When should a parent or caregiver
focus on the sounds and skills necessary to facilitate beginning reading?

Irene, of all of the chapters in this book. This has got to be my favorite. I truly believe it gives parents
the answers to all of those unknown questions about when to work with their child on letters and letter
sounds. It also explains what to expect when the child starts to read in school and how to support his
learning. I believe the focus on these skills should be fun and natural but begin during the preschool years.
There are many practical suggestions in this chapter for parents to help their children increase their awareness
of the meaning of print all around them. By age three, many children already know the ABC's song and begin
to learn the names of the letters. They go on to learn the order of the letters and by age four, they are ready
to begin concentrating more on the shapes and sounds that correspond with each letter. The parent's role
in understanding the importance of selecting age-appropriate books and reading them in the best way possible
cannot be underestimated.

IHZ: Music, play and imagination are all important to the healthy development of a child. They really jump
start early learning. Can you tell us what role they play in developing language skills?

Music and imaginary play are such enjoyable activities that help children develop creativity, coordination,
good social, and conversational skills. When a parent is a playful participant as an excellent language model,
it promotes development of language through fun and natural activities. Music is especially linked to
development of perception and memory. We all know those difficult to learn facts that seem to be recalled
so simply through a song - such as the order of the planets in the solar system. This chapter gives many
suggestions for using music starting at birth with passive activities and moving on to action rhymes and activities.
A parent does not have to sing or play an instrument well to help promote a love of music in their children's lives.

Could you give some examples of activities a parent could try with their child?

Irene, this book emphasizes being a good language model. It teaches parents to have an awareness of the
level the child is on developmentally and to fulfill the child's language needs by modeling one-step ahead.
It shows parents how to simplify their speech and talk about the objects a child is focusing on instead of
changing the topic. I try to emphasize doing activities within the things we do on a daily basis. We all have
our routines we do with our children and when we change our routines in a small way, it almost always
evokes a comment from a child. I also always stress that we should not over-anticipate a child's needs.
The book is full of very practical suggestions for parent-child activities at home, in the car, and even while
waiting in line on a busy day!

Thanks for your time, Laura, and best wishes on the success of your book!

Thank you Irene, for your interest in my previous educational materials
and in Look Who's Talking.

Following is a review of Look Who's Talking so you can have a more detailed sneak peek!

Book Review

Look Who's Talking! : How to Enhance your Child's Language Development Starting at Birth
by Laura Dyer, M.C.D., CCC-SLP
Meadowbrook Press, 2004

This book is a treasure — a definite "must-have" for every parent's bookshelf!
Speech and Language pathologist, Laura Dyer has written the ultimate book on how children acquire speech and
language skills during the first seven years of life. The book is comprehensive in its scope, yet is very
readable and practical as well.
Are you mystified about how babies learn to talk?
Do you wonder how to tell if a child is experiencing developmental lags, or speech difficulties?
Maybe you want to know the ideal time to introduce a foreign language to a child, or how to teach English to a child adopted from another country.
Should you use sign language to improve communication with your child, even if they aren't hearing impaired?
How can a parent or caregiver ready a child for the important task of learning to read?
In crystal clear fashion, Laura Dyer explains all that and more!
Page after page is packed with practical advice, anecdotes, resources, and sidebars filled with the easy to
understand nuggets of information any parent can understand and apply. No technical, head-scratching data.
No confusing jargon. No 64 letter words that leave you scrambling for a dictionary!
If you want a book that takes you step by step through the stages of speech and language learning in children, this is the book for you!
Would you like a more detailed sneak peek? The complete table of contents is below:

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments
Introduction

Chapter 1: General Ways to Enhance Language Development
The Basics
How to Be a Good Language Model
Child-Directed Speech
How Do Babies Communicate Before Using Words?
Techniques to Help your Baby Want to Communicate
Good Verbal Techniques to Help Your Child’s Language Development
When Are Speech Sounds Learned?

Chapter 2: Significant Influences on Language Development
Gender
Birth Order
Multiple Births
Parents
Childcare
TV
Computers

Chapter 3: Common Concerns About Language Development
Ear Infections
Hearing Impairment
Auditory Processing Problems
Pacifiers
Sippy Cups
Oral Motor Development
Tongue-Tie
Common Speech Problems
Why Children Experience Language Delays
Developmental Delays
Seeking Professional Help

Chapter 4: Language Development Facts and Warning Signs
Birth to Age 2 Months
Age 3 to 4 Months
Age 5 to 6 Months
Age 7 to 8 Months
Age 9 to 10 Months
Age 11 to 12 Months
Age 13 to 14 Months
Age 15 to 18 Months
Age 19 to 24 Months
Age Two to Three Years
Age Three to Four Years
Age Five to Six Years
Age Six to Seven Years
One Last Thought on Normal Language Development

Chapter 5: Enhancing Your Child’s Language Skills at Each Stage
Birth to Age 2 Months
Age 3 to 4 Months
Age 5 to 6 Months
Age 7 to 8 Months
Age 9 to 10 Months
Age 11 to 12 Months
Age 13 to 14 Months
Age 15 to 18 Months
Age 19 to 24 Months
Age Two to Three Years
Age Three to Four Years
Age Five to Six Years
Age Six to Seven Years

Chapter 6: Nurturing Pre-Literacy Skills
Beyond the ABCs
The Parent’s Role
Developing Pre-Literacy Skills
Building Overall Sound Awareness (Phonological Awareness)
When Is My Child Ready to Read?
Tips for Successful Early Reading Attempts
An Overview of Whole Language Methods Versus Phonics
Literacy Performance Levels
What to Do If You Suspect Your Child Has a Reading Problem
A Few Words on Writing and Spelling Skills
One Last Word on Language and Literacy

Chapter 7: Gestural Communication (Sign Language)
Why Sign with My Child Who Hears Perfectly Well?
Will Sign Language Delay Spoken Language?
Where Do You Start?
Steps for Successful Signing
Go with the Flow
Transition to Verbal Communication
One Last Word on Signing

Chapter 8: Bilingualism and Second-Language Learning
Why Should My Child Learn a Second Language?
How Do Children Become Bilingual?
Introducing a Second Language
Providing Rich Bilingual Experiences
Trilingualism
When Your Child Is Adopted Internationally
ESL and Bilingual Education
How Varying Cultures Affect Language
Bilingual Testing and Intervention for Speech and Language Delays
One Last Word on Bilingualism and Second-Language Learning

Chapter 9: Using Musical Activities and Imaginary Play to Enhance Language Skills
What’s the Magic Behind Music and Learning?
Music, Babies, and Development
Singing, Music Play, and Musical Instruments for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Music’s Role in Reading Readiness
The Importance of Imaginary Play
One Last Word in Musical Activities and Imaginary Play

Afterword

Appendixes

Appendix A: Little Language Song Lyrics
Appendix B: Organizations and Associations for Additional Information
Appendix C: Recommended Materials, Books, and On-Line Resources

Notes
Index

Dear Readers,

Do you have a topic you would like to see featured in a future newsletter?
Do you have a book, website, educational product or service you would like to see featured
in an upcoming issue of Make your Kid a Genius?
If so, e mail me at artwhiz@greenepa.net.

May you all be prosperous, healthy and happy!
Irene Helen Zundel, editor

©2003 Irene Helen Zündel