Language development is a process starting early in human life. Infants start without language, yet by 4 months of age, babies can discriminate speech sounds and engage in babbling.
The first signs of communication occur when an infant learns that a cry will bring food, comfort, and companionship. Newborns also begin to recognize important sounds in their environment, such as the voice of their mother. As they grow, babies begin to sort out the speech sounds that compose the words of their language. By 6 months of age, most babies recognize the basic sounds of their native language. Children vary in their development of speech and language skills. However, they follow a natural progression or timetable for mastering the skills of language.
Things babies do before they learn to talk
Babies interact with their world by:
Regularly, children begin to develop more meaningful communication by
People can help their child learn and develop by offering lots of opportunities to play and explore in a stimulating, safe, and secure environment. Talk as you play to help your child understand and use language. Let your child hear the words that match what they are looking at.
For more information on language and speech development: From birth to 8 years click on this link
http://www.kimpediatrics.com/language-and-speech-development-from-birth-to-8-years-old/
The first signs of communication occur when an infant learns that a cry will bring food, comfort, and companionship. Newborns also begin to recognize important sounds in their environment, such as the voice of their mother. As they grow, babies begin to sort out the speech sounds that compose the words of their language. By 6 months of age, most babies recognize the basic sounds of their native language. Children vary in their development of speech and language skills. However, they follow a natural progression or timetable for mastering the skills of language.
Things babies do before they learn to talk
Babies interact with their world by:
- Crying and squealing
- Calming to familiar voices or becoming quiet when familiar voices are heard
- Exploring objects by banging them together, throwing, or mouthing them
- Copying other people's actions; for example, waving bye-bye
- Using their faces to communicate; for example, smiling, frowning
- Listening to sounds and voices and trying to respond or interact
- Learning to use their voice to communicate
- Taking turns in making sounds
- Cooing or using 'coos and goos'
- Babbling; for example, 'bub-bub-bub' or 'da-da-da'
Regularly, children begin to develop more meaningful communication by
- Using simple words such as 'mama' and 'dada' for their parents
- Expressing 'yes' or 'no' by nodding or shaking their head
- Making up words for particular objects; for example, 'dodo' for all animals
- Starting to recognize and learn names of things they see a lot
- Using simple words to ask for something; for example, 'bobo' for bottle
- Still babbling but with some real words mixed in
- Using other words such as 'more', 'all gone', 'up'
- Starting to recognize and name simple body parts; for example, eye, ear, nose
- Following simple instructions such as 'come here', 'sit down', 'get book', and 'clap hands'
- Children are starting to put two and three words together to make little sentences
- Children can answer simple questions such as ‘what's that?’ and ‘where is the doggy?’
- Children can follow simple instruction with two key words, such as ‘put the apple in the table’ or ‘give the book to mommy’
- Children can turn pages in board books and point to name or things they recognize
- Children are using longer sentences of up to five words
- They can use words like ‘and’ to link up two sentences
- They understand and talk about colors, simple shapes, sizes and where things go
- They can have a very simple conversation
- They like to look at books with an adult and are able to point to pictures when asked
- Play simple games such as ‘peek-a-boo’ and tickle games
- Talk, using short and basic sentences
- Sing songs and rhymes together
- Talk about and point out objects that can be seen and heard
- Smile and show that you are listening
- Look at books together and talk about the pictures
People can help their child learn and develop by offering lots of opportunities to play and explore in a stimulating, safe, and secure environment. Talk as you play to help your child understand and use language. Let your child hear the words that match what they are looking at.
For more information on language and speech development: From birth to 8 years click on this link
http://www.kimpediatrics.com/language-and-speech-development-from-birth-to-8-years-old/