Communication development

When children are effective communicators, they have a strong sense of identity and wellbeing, are connected to their world and are confident and involved learners. Supporting the development of effective communication in the early years also assists children to become confident and creative individuals, successful lifelong learners, and active and informed members of the community, which is the ultimate goal for education in Australia, as articulated in the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration (Department of Education, Skills and Employment, 2019). In this chapter, we define communication and distinguish between different types of communication. We describe stages in the development of communication skills in the early years, explore the key achievements associated with each stage, identify features that may indicate reasons for seeking help, and suggest strategies for stimulating and supporting communication development across the early years.