The roots of communication begin long before children can read or write. Early pragmatic skills, like joint attention, co-regulation, pretend play, turn-taking, asking and answering questions, sharing simple narratives, and recognizing emotions, lay the foundation for how children connect with others and later evolve into the narrative and discourse abilities that support future literacy skills. Due to emerging pragmatic language skills in the preschool and kindergarten years, children may struggle to tell clear stories, stay on topic, or sequence events.
Pragmatics and academics grow together. This session highlights the powerful role of pragmatics in early development and offers practical strategies, case studies, and real-world examples to help children move from scattered to connected communication, building confidence in relationships and preparing them for future academic success!
