What Parents Need to Know About Infant Language Development
With focused attention to their parent’s voice and exposure to a rich language environment babies begin to learn to recognize sound patterns as meaningful words. This does not require the use of fancy flash cards or electronic “apps”. But rather caregivers engaging a baby in meaningful interactions through everyday experiences such as wiping her face, picking her up or preparing a bottle.
EVERY verbal interaction you have with your baby has potential to create neural connections for auditory brain development. As babies connect meaning to the sounds of the words they hear they are in a sense “organizing them into their auditory file folders” much the way we organize documents into files on a computer.
Remember, there is no exact road map or set of instructions for infant language development. There really isn’t even a final destination where language learning is complete because we have the potential to continue to refine our skills throughout our lives. So, fasten your seat belts and enjoy the ride as you enjoy the truly miraculous journey of language learning with your baby.
If at any point you are concerned about your baby’s pace of development consult with a certified speech-language pathologist. Your pediatrician should have some resources for you to contact a therapist or agency that can provide a screening or full evaluation. Some children are simply “late talkers”, but don’t take that chance by waiting to see what happens. Trust your own instincts and consult a professional as soon as you become concerned.
Use this baby milestones chart 0-12 months for a quick reference if you are concerned.
For some fun infant language development activities check out the Infant Activities or the Baby Play by “Language Launchers” on Pinterest.
Language Launchers Inc. creates products to empower parents with information and activities to take their child’s language to new heights.
For more information you can check out Language Launchers and “like” them on Facebook to receive product updates.
This guest post written by Pamela Talbot, M.Ed, CCC-SLP, Cert. AVT, C.E.D, who is a mom of two, a Speech-Language Pathologist and co-founder of Language Launchers Inc.
This article is featured in A Complete Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms: Parenting Tips.
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Developmental milestones are a great guide to identifying and assessing potential developmental delays in language and speech, social, emotional, and cognitive skills.
So true!
Excellent tips. My daughter was speech and language delayed. These tips are spot on. I am sharing it over at the Moms Together Facebook page. Thanks Jaimi!
Thanks so much, Lori!
I read to my 9 month old about 10 times a day. I keep a small bin of books on the floor, and he goes through them and pulls out ones for us to read. Sometimes we read the actual text, and other times we just look at and discuss the pictures.
That is so great! You are giving your baby exposure to books and I think that is the key to creating a child eager to learn. Thank you for sharing about how you do it.
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Liebster Award!
For details, please follow this link:
http://borntobeasahm.blogspot.com/2013/03/i-was-nominated-liebster-award.html
-Paige
http://borntobeasahm.blogspot.com/
Wow, Paige, thank you! I am so bad at sharing details like this. 🙂 I appreciate you nominating me and I hope to put together my list soon. All the best to you!
I have seen the product first hand and it is wonderful. As a mother of a child with severe speech issues, I wish I had this product for when he was an infant. It might have helped me notice that he has a delay. These tips and this handy box is wonderful for the next baby shower I may have to attend. Good luck to Pam on your adventure.
Thank you for sharing that personal account. It is so valuable to know. If you are interested in entering the drawing, please provide your first name or at least initials. I will announce the winner on Friday!
We read and read and read in our house! I also love to sing to my little one- a lot of nursery rhymes, classic oldies with great hooks, and fun children's songs with finger plays. During nap time or quiet time, I let all of my children listen to music or audiobooks. During one on one time with my youngest (the baby), I generally speak in a higher tone and use lots of expression- which just comes naturally when speaking with an infant. Our third child was delayed in speech, so I am paying even more attention to how I interact with my fourth baby! These tips are great reminders for me.
Thank you for commenting to share! I will need your first name or at least initials to enter you into the drawing. I will announce the winner on Friday!
This is great. We interact with our baby all day long. I describe everything I do during the day and we read books together with her big sister.
Joanna, thank you for commenting to share! I have your name entered into the drawing. I will announce the winner on Friday!
Joanna, you have been picked as the winner of the Language Launchers Babble Box!!!! Congratulations! Please email me at jaimierickson[at]gmail[dot]com, so we can get The Babble Box to you! I look forward to hearing from you.
Hi Joanna, I wanted to let you know that we are still waiting to hear from you and would LOVE to send you your Babble Box! Please email me at jaimierickson{at}gmail{dot}com so we can mail your prize to you! (We will wait until April 11th to hear from you and then this offer will expire.) Hopefully I will hear from you soon!!
This looks interesting. I interact with my baby all day, my older girls love to sing and play games with her. I sing with her.
Bobbie, thank you for commenting to share! I have your name entered into the drawing. I will announce the winner on Friday!
Looks like an interesting resource! We interact with our son daily (by the minute? 😉 ). We have made-up bedtime songs, we read picture books, we talk about nature on our afternoon walks, and he "helps" me with chores (more labeling interactions… "these are socks"). The interaction is really endless!
Janelle, thank you for commenting to share! I have your name entered into the drawing. I will announce the winner on Friday!