Practical Insights for Families on Supporting Language and Literacy

The fifth episode of Usable Knowledge Live: Literacy Insights brought literacy experts together to discuss why oral language matters so much for later literacy development in children.

Assistant Professor and host Phil Capin spoke with Professor Meredith Rowe for “Practical Insights for Families on Supporting Language and Literacy,” which focused on language development, building vocabulary, and how building routines is key to literacy growth.

“Practical Insights for Families on Supporting Language and Literacy,” will be followed by the next episode of Usable Knowledge Live on Wednesday, June 17 at 5 p.m. “The Science of Reading Comprehension” will feature Capin in conversation with Professor James Kim exploring what research tells us about supporting reading comprehension across the elementary years.

You can catch up on past episodes by watching our Literacy Insights YouTube playlist here. 

Key Takeaways

Early language development lays the foundation for later reading and writing
Children’s vocabulary and oral language skills help set the stage for reading comprehension. Even when children can decode words accurately, they need to know what those words mean and how ideas connect to understand what they read.

The quality of talk matters, not just the quantity
The conversation emphasized that supporting language development is not simply about talking more. It is about creating back-and-forth exchanges where children are being talked with, not just talked to. These interactions give children opportunities to respond, extend their thinking, and practice using language in increasingly complex ways.

“Decontextualized talk” helps children build vocabulary, critical thinking, and academic language
Conversations that move beyond the here and now are important in development. Talking about past experiences, future plans, predictions, explanations, pretend scenarios, and abstract ideas can help children build vocabulary, use more complex sentences, and develop the kinds of language they will encounter in school.

Everyday routines are powerful opportunities for language growth
Families do not need a special curriculum or separate activity to support children’s language development. Mealtime, bath time, car rides, errands, and other daily routines can all become moments for rich conversation. The goal is to build on what families are already doing and stretch those interactions in small, meaningful ways.

Shared reading is most powerful when it becomes interactive
Books introduce children to new words, ideas, places, and experiences they may not encounter in everyday life. Families and educators can deepen the reading experience by asking open-ended questions, connecting the story to a child’s life, inviting predictions, talking about how characters feel, and encouraging children to retell stories in their own words.

Related Resources

• Smart Talk
  How to lay the groundwork for child vocabulary growth from Usable Knowledge.
• The Brain-Changing Power of Conversation 
  A resource from Usable Knowledge that highlights how back-and-forth interactions between children and caregivers impact language and brain development along with later literacy skills.
• Deepening the Conversation
  A Usable Knowledge piece highlighting how media can help enrich language and literacy development in early childhood.
• Serve and Return
  An explanation from HGSE’s Center on the Developing Child detailing how parents can support healthy development in children through back-and-forth exchanges between children and adults.
• Raising Strong Readers 
  A Usable Knowledge piece offering strategies for parents and educators to encourage children to read.