Part of the Series : Child of Our Time: A Year-by-Year Study of Childhood Development (12 Parts) | Child of Our Time 2013

 

Communication is at the core of the human experience, even though effective communication takes a lifetime to learn. This program explores how we develop the arts of speech and physical expression to make ourselves understood and to understand others. Visiting a group of 25 three-year-olds, the film observes them learning as many as ten new words a day—some already grasping the first 1,500 components of the 20,000-word vocabulary collected in the average life span. The “nonverbal leakage” or body language that supplements verbal skills is also explored, demonstrating that children with verbal disadvantages can compensate through other techniques. A BBC/Open University Co-production. Original broadcast title: Read My Lips. Part of the series Child of Our Time

Verbal Fluency in Children (05:24)
At age three, Riana is a "chatterbox" whose good verbal skills come from her verbally fluent parents. The pressures of parenting are driving Riana’s parents apart.

Effect of Attention Span on Language Development (05:38)
A mother finds it difficult to have one-on-one conversations with each of her triplets. One triplet's speech impediment is worrisome to her mother.

Speech Difficulties in Children (04:15)
Three-year-old Ethan got off to a bad start because his mother Kerry suffered from severe depression. His speech is difficult to understand and Kerry often loses patience with him.

Nonverbal Communication (02:51)
Children learn language in the context of all nonverbal communications from those around them. An expert analyzes the body language of parents.

Effect of Mixed Messages on Language Development (04:15)
Because his mother sends mixed messages through her verbal and non-verbal communication, Ethan is confused. He falls behind in nursery school academically and socially.

Pronunciation and Sounds of Language (05:56)
Hita speaks her native language at home and finds it difficult to integrate in English-speaking nursery school. A very young child's brain is malleable enough to learn two or more languages at once.

Dyslexia and Language (04:35)
A dyslexic mother is optimistic about her son’s future. When he is diagnosed with the same condition, however, she learns he will require extra help in school.

Nonverbal Expression in Children (04:49)
Children whose parents separate are more likely to have behavior problems. Because Tyrese does not express his feelings verbally about his parents' separation, his mother must watch for nonverbal communication cues.

Interpreting Children's Nonverbal Responses (05:46)
In an experiment, mothers identify their children's nonverbal responses, but Tyrese's mother misses some of his. Experiments show that children with speech difficulties are better at identifying emotion in language.

Emotions Hidden Behind Speech (03:41)
At age three, Riana understands that many negative feelings are hidden, just as they are at home between her parents.

Open Communication Between Partners (04:01)
MRI brain scans reveal biological differences that indicate women use both sides of the brain more than men do. Riana’s parents practice new communication strategies.

Parents Improving Their Skills (05:27)
Ethan's mother practices assertiveness skills with a coach. A language teacher works with Hita and her mother so that their language skills can open up new opportunities for them in an English-speaking world.