Talking with Baby: Language Development and Milestones

BabyToddler & Preschool
Written By Guest User

While your child may not be talking, singing and dancing like some of the baby memes you see, from the time they are born, your child is communicating. Talking and listening to your child from day one will not only will help develop language skills, but will also establish a relationship of openness and communication, which you will cherish throughout your child’s life.

What Can I Say?

You can encourage language development by talking, reading and singing to your child and paying attention to their sounds and words at EVERY age, even your infant.There are ways you can help your child build language skills at different developmental stages. Remember that there are great variations in individual children for language development. If you have concerns your child is not meeting milestones, consult with your pediatrician.

Bilingual BabiesThere are lots of reasons to raise a bilingual child – most commonly because parents or family members speak more than one language or because the community one lives in speaks a language other than the language spoken at home. Growing up with more than one language can be the easiest way to learn multiple languages. There is research showing that bilingual children develop strong reading, writing, analytical and general academic skills. Being bi/multilingual can also make your child closer to their cultural history. There is some research that says bilingual children can begin to speak a little later than monolingual children and sometimes mix up languages when they speak. These issues usually resolve quickly and are very minimal compared to the many benefits.

Language Milestones

Infants

  • Infants respond to your tone and the emotional feeling you are conveying.
  • Pay attention to their cooing and gurgling.
  • Talk in soothing tones.
  • Smile (at every age).
  • Sing (at every age) – Singing slows down the words so your baby can distinctly hear all the sounds of the language and singing lessons not required, your child will love your voice.
  • Read  (at every age).

Baby Talk?Ever wonder if your baby cares about the high pitch voice, stretched out vowels and funny faces you and most everyone else uses when talking to babies? Some experts say there is value to what is sometimes called “Parentese.” It can help infants pay attention and  “map” in their brains the sounds they hear so that they begin to learn and understand language. So, go ahead, keep taaalllkkkiing to that pretttyyyyyy bayyyybeee.

4+ months

  • Your baby will start noticing differences in sounds and react to them.
  • Respond to their babble.
  • Imitate sounds they make.
  • When your baby imitates a sound you make, repeat it.

9+ months

  • Your baby can start understanding simple words. Mama, house. She’ll react when you clap and say “Yay!”
  • Describe what is happening:
    • Papi and baby are going into the kitchen.
    • Let’s eat applesauce with this spoon.
  • Ask simple questions. Who’s in the mirror? If they do not or cannot answer yet, answer for them:
    • Nai Nai (grandmother) and Kim are in the mirror.

12+ months

  • Your baby can start saying simple words and will use complex gestures to communicate. They’ll find a way to tell you to pick them up!
  • Ask open-ended simple questions:
    • What do we put on our feet to go outside in the rain?
  • Talk about pictures in books you read:
    • The boy in this picture is wearing a red raincoat.
  • Encourage them to describe what they see. Give them time to think and answer.
    • What color raincoat is the boy wearing?
  • Expand on what your child says and does. Give support for being correct AND give a new word:
    • Yes, that’s your raincoat, your blue raincoat.
  • Encourage and give support for their new skills. Clap your hands and say:
    • Yes! Boots go on your feet before you go outside.

18+ months

  • Your toddler can begin to string words together, perhaps making simple sentences.
  •  Your child can start following simple directions. Ask them to put the napkins on the table or put toys away. This helps with language skills and can teach them about self-care and to learn responsibility.
  • Pretend play is important to language skills! Give them a pretend phone and have them call a character from their favorite book.
  • Encourage your child to speak to others – family, friends, the supermarket clerk.

Patience is a Virtue

Like much about parenting, it’s essential to be patient as your child develops language skills. If they mispronounce or say the wrong word, gently and lovingly correct them and don’t worry about it. They’ll get it with time.

There's Always Something to Talk About

Start talking and reading and singing and smiling and listening to your child from the very beginning and keep at it. You can help them with language skills whether it’s gurgling with them or chatting at a tea party with their dolls. It not only will help with language development, but will also strengthen your bond with your child for years to come.And if you are getting a little tired of talking just to your baby at times, talk to your friends and family about what it’s like to talk with your child. Invite them to read this post or share it on Facebook.  Discuss the ideas together online or in person (in front of your children, of course, so they get to hear you talking more!).Want to know even more? Sign up for Triple P and you’ll find lots of info about language development and more tried and true tips. This article is brought to you by Parenting Now! Parenting Educators and authors, Tova Stabin, Claire Davis and Lynne Swartz and consultant Jay Thompson (andupdatemywebsite.com).  Parenting Now! is passionate about happy, healthy families. For more information about Parenting Now! please visit their website (https://parentingnow.org/) or contact us at info@parentingnow.org

 

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