How can adults best help four-year-olds learn to use correct grammar?

Focusing on letting four-year-olds hear correct speech is an effective approach because children often learn language and grammar through exposure. When adults model proper speech, children pick up patterns and structures inherently. This method capitalizes on natural curiosity and their desire to communicate effectively, allowing them to absorb grammatical rules within context rather than feeling pressured to perform or recall specific rules.

Hearing correct speech helps them internalize the language framework, enabling them to use proper grammar in their own speech without direct correction. Children at this age are particularly attuned to the nuances of language, and consistent exposure to correctly formed sentences helps them naturally acquire these language skills. This process also promotes a positive learning environment, where children feel encouraged to communicate without the fear of judgement for making mistakes.