Language as a Missing Link Toolkit
Language development dramatically and positively impacts life outcomes–but it’s often overlooked.
Conversely, the failure to develop a capacity for effective communication jeopardizes emotional well-being and educational attainment.
The Language as a Missing Link toolkit is designed for individuals, practitioners, and policymakers to integrate and sustain a proactive approach that employs language as a well-being indicator that is foundational for educational, mental health, and well-being outcomes.
“When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.”
EXPLORE THE ENTIRE TOOLKIT
The concepts and practices contained in these tools support all to implement/employ developmentally responsive practices that positively impact the quality of life of children—from birth through adulthood. The intent is to address the gap between knowledge of the impact of language development, engagement as the fuel for language development, and universal practices and policies.
Individual Implementation Resources
The aim of the toolkit is to:
Enhance the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy of individuals, practitioners, and policymakers who interact with — or indirectly impact — children and families, and
apply language as a well-being indicator through embedded practices.
NOTICE Language Indicators of Wellbeing
Use this tool to NOTICE language indicators of well-being that enable children to communicate for different reasons (why we communicate), communicate in different ways (how we communicate), regulate emotions with the help of others (mutual regulation), and regulate emotions on one’s own (self regulation).
Social Engagement Ladder
The Social Engagement Ladder monitors whether children are actively engaged in everyday activities that involve social interaction. This tool measures rates of investment, independence, and initiation when engaging in everyday activities.
When children are engaged, their use of language is frequent, functional, socially oriented, and fluid across settings.
To help you implement the Social Engagement Ladder, view the training videos in the player or visit our playlist.
Quick Reference Tool
This resource provides ideas on enhancing everyday routines with strategies to foster engagement for all children—from those who are before words to those with emerging language, developing language competence, or conversational.
Six-Step Mentorship Tool
This resource provides a framework to sustain and enhance engagement through simple, realistic methods that nurture practice—by appreciating what already works and exploring opportunities for next steps.