Baby Talk 101 | Baby Sensory in Scottsdale

If you didn’t get a chance to check out the Baby Sensory Class this past Wednesday, we have a special treat!  Here’s Dr. Lin Day of Baby Sensory with some wisdom on encouraging our babies speach development:

The acquisition of speech and language are complex life skills and yet babies understand words and whole sentences long before they can speak. What is so extraordinary is that babies up to the age of ten months have the capacity to learn several languages. Adults however, have great difficulty in managing the grammar and dialects of new languages because they are accustomed to the sounds and codes of their native tongue.

The drive to communicate is very powerful and babies develop many different ways of expressing themselves before they utter their first words. Body language is one way in which babies communicate before the development of speech. Some studies have shown that teaching babies to sign enhances communication and enables them to develop a better grasp of language in general. Parents feel overwhelmed with joy when babies sign that they are wet, thirsty, hungry, tired or in pain.

Language acquisition increases from simplicity to complexity throughout infancy. The newborn, for example, starts without language. However, by the age of three months, babies can read lips and discriminate between the different sounds of speech. They also develop a delightful repertoire of gurgles, sighs, and coos. By the age of six months, babies may produce repetitive syllables such as ‘da-da-da’. By the end of their first year, some babies have mastered the ability to say a few simple words. Although all babies go through the same stages of language acquisition, each baby learns at a different rate. Some produce their first word at ten months while others talk at 20 months or much later.

The development of the brain pathways, genetic inheritance, maturity of the vocal apparatus, the ability to hear, the quality of care and ample opportunities to interact socially with other people all affect the acquisition of speech and language. Children with weaker verbal abilities are much more likely to experience difficulties learning literacy skills when they enter school than those who have been given high quality opportunities in early life. That’s why it is so important to provide an environment rich in language from the very beginning.

Ideas for activities

The way in which the adult communicates and interacts with the baby will determine the path that language development takes in the future. Reduced social interaction between the parent and baby may lead to language delays and reading and writing problems when the child goes to school. Parents and practitioners can help babies develop speech and language skills during regular play activities, without adding extra time to the day. There are also plenty of fun things to do during planned play times. Here are a few ideas:

• Talk to baby during daily routine activities such as feeding, bath time and diaper changing
• Listen to the sounds that babies make and respond with words of encouragement so that they know you are listening
• Use simple speech that is easy for babies to imitate and allow them time to respond
• Use parentese to encourage two-way interaction
• Draw attention to objects and say their names.
• Make animal sounds -babies love them!
• Sing lullabies, songs and nursery rhymes to introduce new words and to encourage listening skills and repeat them regularly
• Play turn-taking games involving signs or actions such as ‘Pat-a-cake’ and ‘Peek-a-boo’ and demonstrate pleasure at baby’s response
• Read and reread picture and story books that focus on sounds and rhymes
• Introduce babies to large pictures and take time to name and describe them
• Praise baby for words used correctly



Be sure to check out these amazing classes at the PV Mall and other select locations in the Valley.  Visit www.babysensory.com for location and time details.