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How to Support Your Child's Language Development
During the First Year of Life
What can you expect your child to do?
The first year of life is an exciting time to watch your baby begin to realize that he or she can communicate and for you to realize how alert and interactive your baby really is.
Around 3 months of age, your baby will already be doing communicative things that form the early basis of good language development:
Turns head toward voices.
Startles to loud sounds.
Recognizes parent's voice (stops crying at sound of parent's voice).
Changes how fast or slow he or she is sucking when hearing sounds.
Smiles when he or she sees you.
Repeats cooing sounds.
From about 4-6 months, more communicative behaviors will emerge. The infant in this age range has begun to recognize the sounds of the specific language he or she is hearing. Even though the infant does not know what the words mean at this age, he or she is developing the sound system for the language parents and others are using. During this period, you can expect these behaviors from your infant:
Babbles (repeating syllables such as bababa or mamama).
Makes sounds to express pleasure or unhappiness.
Makes gurgling sounds when playing, even when alone.
Indicates wants or needs with sounds, gestures or both.
Looks toward sounds and seems to pay attention to music.
From 7-12 months, even more is happening, as more recognizable signs of language begin to appear:
Begins to recognize his or her own name.
Listens when spoken to.
Recognizes common words like "cup," "juice," or "doggie."
Responds to simple requests like "come here" or "wave bye bye."
May say a few single words like "bye bye" or "ball" although not with adult-like pronunciation.
Turns the thick pages of baby books, pats the book pages and pictures, may chew on books but will also look at pictures with you.
Likes games like "pat-a-cake" and "peek-a-boo."
What can you do to encourage language development?
Remember, even before your infant or child understands what you are saying, he or she is hearing sounds and voice patterns. The brain is busy at work getting ready for language, so the play you engage in and the attention you give your baby are very important in giving him or her what the brain needs for this important work.
We all seem to naturally adjust the way we talk to babies, in ways that would sound silly if we were talking to older children or adults. But this natural process gives infants the naturally enriched input they need that makes developing language easier for them.
Here are activities that are fun for you and your baby and that the baby's grandparents, sisters and brothers, and others can do that will entertain your baby as well as help develop the baby's important ability to communicate!
Look at your baby when he or she makes vocal sounds.
Watch to be sure your baby turns toward sounds to make sure she or he is hearing well, and pay attention to ear infections.
Play sound-imitation games in which you imitate the baby's sounds and try to get the baby to imitate your sounds. This is especially fun with animal sounds ("The cat says meow," or "The cow says moo.")
Play games that involve talking and imitation of both sounds and gestures. Play "peek-a-boo" and hand-clapping games, sing simple songs with gestures, such as "Itsy-bitsy spider," and count fingers and toes.
Talk about what you are doing ("Let's get you some milk," or "We are going in the car now.") and talk about colors ("This ball is red.").
Help your child get familiar with books; let the child sit in your lap and help you turn the pages while you point to the pictures and name them.
Give you child attention and show appreciation for all of your child's efforts, but don't push your child to talk and don't expect adult-level pronunciation.
Have fun!
When should you worry?
Some behaviors may be warning signals that your child's language is not developing normally. If you suspect a problem, ask a doctor, nurse, or speech-language pathologist.
Possible signs for concern in the first year of life:
Your child does not seem to hear, does not turn his or her head toward sounds and voices.
Your child is not making "baby talk" (cooing or babbling sounds).
Your child does not interact with you.
Your child seems not to understand any words.
Your child is not trying to use his or her voice and gestures to get desired items.
How to Support Your Child's Language Development
» During the First Year of Life
From One to Two Years of Age
From Two to Three Years of Age
From Three to Four Years of Age
From Four to Five Years of Age
Bilingual Language Development
Additional Resources
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