One of the most important skills that children carry with them as they transition from childcare to kindergarten is the ability to communicate. After three years in a nurturing childcare environment, many children emerge with the aptitude and confidence to speak, express themselves and engage socially – skills that are foundational for success in kinder classes and beyond.
However, this is not a magical journey – it is the result of intentional, language-rich environments, dedicated educators and collaborative efforts with specialists.
For example, with the help of speech and language pathologists, childcare centres can offer their little students speech and language assessments, providing detailed reports to parents and educators. These speech experts can also conduct staff training sessions, equipping childcare educators with practical strategies to support speech development in their everyday routines.
This kind of collaboration is a key example of how one can better prepare our children for schooldays. Such a collaboration prioritises the importance of early intervention and the role of trained professionals in identifying and addressing speech delays before they actually start hindering the learning process.
Yes, despite these efforts, one growing concern threatens to undermine this progress: the increasing reliance on screens to while away the time.
Passive screen use
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), children under five should have limited sedentary screen time – no more than one hour per day, and ideally less. The WHO emphasises that interactive play and caregiver engagement are far more beneficial to a child’s development than passive screen use.
Unfortunately, screens are becoming increasingly prevalent in childcare settings, often used as a tool to idle away the hours for children. While convenient, this practice can have long-term consequences.
“Children learn to speak by listening, mimicking and engaging in conversations. When screens replace human interaction, children miss out on these essential experiences”
When screen time lacks interactivity or educational value, it can limit children’s chances for verbal interaction, imaginative play and social engagement – all of these are critical for speech and language development.
Children learn to speak by listening, mimicking and engaging in conversations. When screens replace human interaction, children miss out on these essential experiences.
What can be done?
First, one must prioritise speech friendly routines in childcare. This means integrating language into daily activities – talking through tasks, singing songs, reading aloud and encouraging children to express their thoughts and feelings. Educators should be trained to recognise speech milestones and use strategies that promote verbal engagement.
Secondly, one needs to create screen-free zones and times, especially during key development phases of the kids. Instead of relying on tablets or televisions, childcare centres should invest in books, puppets, musical instruments and other tools that stimulate conversation and creativity.
Finally, parents must be part of the conversation. Childcare centres should provide resources and workshops to help families understand the impact of screen time and the importance of verbal interaction at home. Simple changes – like narrating daily routines, asking open-ended questions and limiting screens during meals – can have a significant impact.
Following childcare, children must be fully equipped with the speech and language skills needed to thrive in kindergarten. This is achievable when we foster rich verbal environments, limit screen times and collaborate with experts. Let’s ensure that every child has the voice and the vocabulary to succeed.
Yasmin Rababah is an early childhood education and care consultant and co-owner at Tiny Scholars Childcare Centre. The centre collaborates with speech and language pathologist Donna Attard Vella.
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