Nursery want her to speak louder- how?

[leapinglemur]

DD has just started at Nursery. She has always been a very quiet child and has always spoken quietly. Nursery say they are finding her very hard to hear. Any tips on how to get her confidence up so that she can be heard?
Our household is quiet and we dont shout. DH and I are quite introverted people but we can see DD going the same way. I would hate for her to have my lack of confidence. We praise her all the time and try and boost her confidence, we were hoping that Nursery would be able to boost it even further, but they seem to have blown that by telling us...in front of her...that they cant hear her or understand her.
She is a very bright child, very articulate (just quiet) and happy. She talks about School and is keen to go on her days.

Sorry-forgot to add- she will be 3 in a few months time.

Would being quiet be that much of a problem? It's surely their problem?

She sounds content. Has she got a lack of confidence at preschool?

she should be left alone to find her feet and be herself imo.

at your nursery

What a stupid thing to say in front of her! Why can they not make more effort to listen to her?

FWIW, it sounds to me like you're doing everything possible to help your dd, in a kind and sensitive way. She is so young still!

She sounds lovely, by the way

And it's great that she enjoys going and is happy!

She only started last week (3 mornings a week). I am delighted with how she is getting on...no tears, talk of friends, taking part in most activities. She speaks with the teachers but they just want her to be louder. She is not a loud child, just a quietly spoken, shy one. Sometimes it would be good if she did speak louder for us, i.e. in the car!
She needs a while to settle in, but by nature she just isn't loud, I dont think I can change that.

Am also at the nursery for saying that in front of her.

For me (as a Drama Teacher used to very quiet children), i would be a bit silly and play lots of games to get her used to hearing her own voice louder first - eg SHOOOOOOUTT LOUUD then really quuuuiet LOOUD LOOOOOUDER quiet and really really quiet.

or standing further away - can you hear me now?

or playing with echos

As a parent, I would play these as fun games and mention nothing to do with telling her to speak louder. As a teacher, I might do a few activities with all the children in this vein (rather than singling her out).