Targeted interventions for declining language skills

There has been much discussion that the language development and vocabulary of Icelandic children is deteriorating, and that this later affects their reading comprehension and academic prospects. A new project by the City of Hafnarfjörður aims to reach parents of children aged 6-24 months, so that the children's language development is supported from an early age and intervention can be provided sooner if they need assistance. This is a collaboration that extends to day-care providers and after-school clubs in Hafnarfjörður.

Hafnarfjörður's literacy strategy and the project 'Reading is the Game of Life', which was launched in Hafnarfjörður's primary and nursery schools in 2015-2016, This new project reaches much younger children than has previously been the case, or parents of children aged 6 to 24 months. Educational meetings on speech development and language stimulation are now being held by the City of Hafnarfjörður for the parents of the municipality's youngest children, and parents can attend meetings in their own neighbourhood. Four of the ten meetings have already been held with some success. Booklets have also been published in three languages and are available in many places, including at Hafnarfjörður's health centres. The project's aim is to raise parents' awareness of the importance of language development. 

Brochures can be found Here

Find out more about the training sessions Here

Daycare providers called for participation in a project

„This is a major community project aimed at reaching as many people as possible who care for children at all school stages, and while the children are still at home with their parents and guardians. Daycare providers in Hafnarfjörður called for participation in a literacy project, as they themselves were experiencing a change and possibly a regression in their children's speech development. It was therefore decided to launch this new project with the active participation of parents and daycare providers.“ says Bjartey Sigurðardóttir, a speech and language therapist and project manager for 'Reading is the Game of Life' at Hafnarfjörður Municipality. A checklist is currently being developed for childminders on the criteria for normal language development and how signs of a deviation from it manifest in children aged 0-3. Daycare providers will use these checklists in their work, in collaboration and consultation with parents, thereby assisting parents should stimulating and constructive interventions be required. „The expansion of the reading policy now also includes the after-school clubs, where daily reading with the children and staff training on language development and Language stimulation. So, after-school clubs have also become active participants.“ says Bjartey. 

There can be many contributing factors.

The causes of poorer language skills and a more limited vocabulary can be many, for example, various social and technological changes that can affect communication between parents and children at home, and the increased influence of English, for instance, through videos and apps with English speech. Thus, smart devices are also potentially being used as a „nanny“, in addition to which parents„ use of smart devices can also have a significant impact on communication.„There is much to consider in this regard, and it is essential to reach as many people as possible who are involved in the upbringing and development of children. It really does take a village to raise a child. It's nothing more complicated than that.“ Bjartey says in conclusion. It is a collaborative project involving numerous partners within the municipality. For example, the Hafnarfjörður Library gives every child aged six to twenty-four months a book gift and a library card.