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Baby Talk Promotes Language Skills
Jinny Hopp, Human Environmental Sciences Specialist in Jasper County, University of Missouri Extension
Research suggests to us that the best parent and child relationships are characterized by an abundance of positive communication. Good communication will lead to warm relationships, cooperation, and increased self-esteem within the child. Enhancing communication and language skills is a very important role for the parent/caregiver, and really quite simple to do. Talking with baby is important! Below are some helpful hints to use with your child during the first two years of life:
Talk during daily routines
Talk to your infant when feeding or diapering. Your
talking stimulates the baby’s brain development. Babies
learn tone of voice, the rhythm of language, and word
sounds from you. Your explanations reassure them.
When talking with toddlers you are showing them how to
put words together and form sentences. Toddlers are very
curious about things in the world. As you and your child
do things around the house, name the things that you are
using and talk about what you are doing.
Ask questions
Be patient, give them your undivided attention, and
encourage them to respond. Young children may stutter
because they are trying to find the words to use, which
is typical of a young child, but be patient and allow
them time to find the words. You are teaching good
patterns for communication when you speak and then wait
for a response.
Sing to them
Babies don’t care whether you can carry a tune or not.
Your singing to them gives them more sounds to identify
and helps make more connections in the brain.
Read books
Reading is a fun way for children to recognize words and
their meanings. Reading can be done anywhere: outside in
the yard or on the porch, inside on the couch, at the
table in the kitchen, or tucked in bed. As you and your
child go through a book talk about what is happening in
the pictures. Setting aside time every day for reading.
This can be a very special time for your child. It will
make them feel loved because you are giving them your
full attention.
Discuss feelings.
Help toddlers label both positive and negative emotions
with words, for example, "You look so happy to see
Grandma," and "I know you're mad because you can't have
that candy." Being able to communicate feelings is very
important; it is the first step to emotional well being
in later life. Being able to recognize and communicate
one’s own feelings will assist with understanding
others.
Use nonverbal communication.
Nonverbal communication is powerful. Nonverbal
communication involves facial expression, tone of voice,
gestures, touch, and eye contact. When communicating
with your child, be an example of ways that people use
nonverbal expressions by exaggerating facial
expressions, using different tones of voice, and using a
variety of hand or body gestures. You only need to watch
a child to see how the people important to them use
their bodies. They are small mirrors reflecting how the
adults around them move and speak.
Last Updated 09/26/2007
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