New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What activity can family members do to encourage oral language development?

1. Ignoring child's attempts to communicate

2. Using gestures instead of words

3. Engaging in wordplay and rhymes

4. Limiting conversations to yes or no questions

The correct answer is: Engaging in wordplay and rhymes

Engaging in wordplay and rhymes is a highly effective activity for promoting oral language development among children. This approach fosters a rich linguistic environment by encouraging children to experiment with sounds, patterns, and meanings of words. Wordplay, such as puns, tongue twisters, and playful language games, captures children’s interest and motivates them to communicate more. Additionally, using rhymes helps children develop phonemic awareness, which is crucial for reading and language skills. Hearing and repeating rhymes improves their ability to recognize sounds within words, thus strengthening their overall language proficiency. By participating in these playful language activities, family members support children's vocabulary growth, comprehension, and pronunciation in a fun and engaging manner.