Comments on: Should We Correct a 3-Year-Old’s Diction?

By: Footyman

Footyman — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:30:25 +0000

Aldhis – yes we read this somewhere before too. Try not to correct them but teach them by example. Thanks for reminding us that.

Lian – Great Idea! But it probably takes an experienced and creative parent like you to be able to think so fast.

Pete – Yes taking things light-heartedly always work doesn’t it? We’ll bear that in mind.

Thank you all!

By: Pete Aldin

Pete Aldin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:52:57 +0000

I like Lian’s idea above. I don’t think you did anything wrong. Part of our job as parents is to teach kids to do things “right”; I think the thing is that we don’t somehow communicate to them that they’re dumb or bad or something when we do it. It’s just a matter-of-fact correction or one done with a smile and a joke if that works.

I’m more interested in the teenager’s comment: was that about her or about him? If about him, it was insensitive and … well … bad…

By: Lian's Christmas Gifts Ideas

Lian's Christmas Gifts Ideas — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:34:21 +0000

Another way to help is to join in the conversation. For example, you could say, “Yea, Filmore is my favorite”. So you are helping the other person understand what your son is saying but not directly correcting him. Another thing I do is put the blame back on the adult but in a humorous way. I will say something like “yea, this aunty not so clever that’s why she cannot understand”

By: Aldhis

Aldhis — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 06:01:52 +0000

My experience in teaching children is we have to enter their world to understand them. Don’t correct their mis-spell or words, but show them that we usually say this or write that.
They will learn unconciously, whose right or wrong.