3: Building children’s understanding; household transitions
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This module has been created to assist children from Defence, First Responders and Remote Working parents understand what is happening in their family and explain complex concepts.
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First Responder families
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Defence and Remote Working families
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This article features a defence family with a young child. There is video footage of a reunion at the airport.
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This resource is from My FIFO Family that have other resources, including a children's storybook.
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Educational activities in Children's Resources
To accompany this module, please use the following resources from Children's Resources:
1. Now that I am big: Anthony's story resources, including a downloadable, printable eBook, audio and video read-along versions, , personalised activity book, an interactive eBook, extension teaching activities, Keyword Sign video lessons and printable teaching materials
2. When Dad/Mum goes on Deployment activity books (within the D is for Deployment resources) where educators help the children make the book using photos the child has brought in, drawings of themselves and the parent and decorations.
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Other ways to improve language and vocabulary
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Children and adults are naturally drawn to music and musicality - they are important aspects of our human lives. This pamphlet discusses how relevant that is today in our Early Childhood and home learning environments.
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Resources for parents
There is good research-based information in these online articles. There will also be many tips that are relevant for educators.
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Language development supports many other aspects of development, like cognitive, social and literacy development. You can support language development by talking a lot with your child, and responding when your child communicates.
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One-year-olds are learning many new words. Two-year-olds can combine words into very short sentences. By two years, you can partly understand what toddlers are saying.
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At 2-3 years, vocabulary keeps growing and includes many different types of words and sounds. Toddlers are still mastering difficult sounds, but you can understand more of what they’re saying.
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Preschoolers can tell simple stories, put words to emotions, and use words as part of their play with others.
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At 5-8 years, children understand more about sounds and how they make words. This helps them with learning to read. By the time children are five, you can understand all of what they say.
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When children have unusual difficulties with speaking and/or understanding, it might be language delay. Support for children with language delay might include special group programs, pictures and books.
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Autistic children can find it hard to learn and use language. Help autistic children learn language by creating reasons to use language, playing, modelling and rewarding language use.
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Tough topics for children include divorce, illness, death, sex and natural disasters. Talking about tough topics reassures your child, helps your child understand things, and lets you explain family values.
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Children need honest, simple information about death. Children might ask about why and what happens when people die. You can prepare for questions like these.