Chapter 1 · the goals of childcare
Before a child can talk, they listen
Goal (e) isn’t about vocabulary lists. It’s about a child discovering that words are worth reaching for.
Goal (e)
Richness in language, built through daily life
Nurture interest and curiosity about language through everyday life, and build richness in language — speaking, listening, and trying to understand what someone else is saying.
But here’s the key
Listening comes before speaking
Read the goal again — speaking, listening, then understanding. Language starts as connection, not correctness. A baby babbling back and forth with you is already doing this goal, long before a single real word appears.
In real life
Narrating the ordinary
While I change a diaper, I talk through it: “I’m lifting your legs now, here comes the wipe, all clean.” No response is expected. But I’m showing a nine-month-old that this moment, this body, this action all have words — and that I think she’s worth talking to.
A common misunderstanding
“Correct it right away.”
“He said ‘goed’ instead of ‘went’ — I should correct him immediately so it doesn’t stick.”
“I reply naturally with the right word — ‘oh, you went to grandma’s!’ — and let him keep talking. Correction can wait; confidence can’t.”
Why this matters to you
Your voice is the material
You don’t need a worksheet to work on language. Every meal, nappy change, and walk to the sandpit is raw material — if you narrate it, ask real questions, and actually wait for the answer.
A quiet room isn’t a language-rich room. A room full of your ordinary talk is.
Your turn
Think about your next routine task — nappies, lunch, tidy-up time.
Am I doing this task silently, or out loud?
Try narrating it today. That’s goal (e), in real time.
About Bond Japan
NPO Bond Japan
Bond Japan connects international schools so they can learn from one another and deepen a shared understanding of early childhood education and care.
