Baby's Language Development
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A baby's life begins with language as he conveys information by crying and cooing. This motion exercises his vocal cords and movement of the mouth and tongue. As a parent/caregiver responds to the baby with words, this teaches the baby that sound and speech are important. First the baby uses his lips, tongue and palate to make sounds such as "ooh" and "ahh" during the first 2 months. Later (around 3 to 6 months), these sounds turn into real-sounding words like "mama" and "dada."
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Babies learn by imitation. As you hear the baby make sounds such as "ba, ba, ba" you can repeat her sound and then continue to say the word "baby." Change your voice tones often and emphasize syllables. This makes talking fascinating and holds the baby's attention. It is very important to talk with her while she is awake even though she may not understand you. This process helps the baby to learn patterns of language. Rock and sing to the baby as snuggling gives her a sense of security. Maintain eye contact when doing these activities, as the expressions on your face and sound of your voice teach the baby the art of communication.
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As the baby vocalizes and babbles (between 7 and 12 months), he truly doesn't understand his speech, although he is imitating tones and patterns to match you. Make sure to read, sing and point out objects, always vocalizing real words. Close to 18 months, the baby may be using one or more words that he understands or wants to know the meaning of. He is realizing that language helps to communicate his needs. As the baby grows, so will his vocabulary, and by the age of 2 the baby will be putting together small sentences and singing simple tunes.
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Throughout her formative years, help the child develop language by providing a rich and nurturing communication environment. Always be a good listener, as a child is more apt to speak when she knows someone is interested in what she is saying. If for any reason you feel that your child is delayed in speech, check with the pediatrician.
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- Photo Credit www.flickr.com, lilaanne
