Baby Talk: Language Development

A little one’s first words are music to a parent’s ears, but did you know that you play a critical role in the process of getting your baby to that point? It’s true! Children with parents who regularly talk to them are known to have increased communication skills and a more robust vocabulary than those who don’t. Thankfully, the way most of us feel compelled to talk to babies is the way they prefer to hear it: in a sing-songy cadence such as “I looove youuuu!” and “Now wheeerrreee did your sock gooo?!?!”

Talking to your baby comes naturally, whether it’s in the form of a game of “peekaboo,” a conversation you have with her while you change her diaper (“Let’s get you all cleaned up! Now, don’t you feel better?”) or a soft lullaby serenade given while you rock her to sleep. But what seems like second nature—and possibly just fun and games—is actually a key part of bolstering your little one’s speech, language and social development. Her little brain is absorbing every articulation and nuance in the way you speak to her, and it’s preparing her to be able to communicate with you in turn.

Alyssa Gerrity, a speech pathologist and mom of one, has devoted more than a decade to serving children between her own private practice and more recently within Canyon Creek Elementary in Olathe. She encourages parents with this simple truth: there are ample ways to make a home a language-rich environment. Here are some of them.

Never Underestimate the Power of Story

Alyssa recommends hitting the books from the start. “First and foremost, reading to your child—even from birth—is one of the best ways to help your child develop a strong language foundation,” she says. Your baby won’t understand everything you’re saying, but by her first birthday she will have learned all the sounds necessary to speak in your native tongue. So the more stories you introduce her to, the stronger her vocabulary will be and the more improved her own speech will be.

Reading aloud builds memory and listening skills and teaches little ones about the world around them. Your baby will pick up cues about different emotions and expressions, mimic sounds that you make and point to pictures, the first sign of asking questions. But perhaps the greatest reason to cuddle up together with a good book is the bond that it forms between readers and the book itself. If little ones are read to often and with fondness, they, in turn, associate books with happiness—and new readers are born. One of the best ways to grow a reader is to keep books readily accessible around your home. Keep sturdy vinyl, cloth or board books within easy reach so that Baby can easily grab a book as soon as he’s able.

Face Time Vs. Facetime

“A screen can never replace face-to-face interaction in terms of the quality of a communication exchange,” Alyssa asserts. Since the advent of the tablet, parents have downloaded educational apps with the intention of bolstering Baby’s IQ and language skills. But research confirms that there is no substitute for Mom and Dad as primary language teachers. Looking into your baby’s eyes, asking questions and giving time for him to absorb and respond with his babbles and coos, give a real-time response that is necessary for healthy social interaction (and it’s something no device can provide). Limit the screen time (which is known to stunt language skills) and talk away!

Humpy Dumpty Had a Great ... Breakthrough

What do Little Boy Blue, Jack and Jill, and Mary Mary Quite Contrary have in common? They’re all part of one of the most underrated and highly valued tools for building early speech: nursery rhymes. A common practice in childhoods of old, nursery rhymes fail to get the credit they’re due in modern times. Alyssa encourages parents to introduce their children to a broad assortment of these beloved poems and songs as a way of bonding and learning together. Purchasing a few collections in book form is a wonderful way to get started. But don’t forget to consult Mimi and Papa! Grandparents innately have a vast knowledge of these antiquated sayings and notions, and they can be wonderful teachers to the next generation. If words come to you but you fail to come up with a tune, look into nursery rhyme collections such as Wee Sing where both you and your baby can familiarize yourself with both lyrics and melodies.

There’s More Than One Way to Talk

“I think baby sign language is great,” Alyssa recommends. “Some people think that if you teach Baby sign language that it will replace spoken words. That’s a myth. Teaching sign and pairing it with the word verbally helps provide a bridge to spoken language. It also teaches young children the power of communication, which ultimately leads to an increase in verbal communication.”

One of the greatest benefits of baby sign language is that it helps nonverbal children express themselves earlier than they might otherwise, while, on the flip side, fueling a natural chatterbox’s insatiable appetite for more words. Parents can find signing classes to participate in with their baby through various sources, from local community centers, library programs and moms groups. For home use, look into Rachel Coleman’s program Baby Signing Time, which teaches sign language through books, DVDs and music as demonstrated by babies themselves.

-----------Baby Talk? Parentese? What’s the Difference?---------

Do you know the difference between baby talk and parentese? Baby talk is when parents and caretakers mispronounce words and use improper grammar when talking to their little ones in an attempt to mimic their child (“Wook at dose widdle shoes!”). Parentese, however, takes three of the best elements of “baby talk”—higher pitch, slower tempo and exaggerated intonation—and applies them to real words and correct grammar. The results? A University of Washington linguistics study found that babies ages 14-18 months spoken to in parentese had nearly twice the vocabulary of their control group counterparts. More interesting still, this parenting technique is represented in almost every language throughout the world!

Lauren Greenlee is an Olathe mom of three who loves bonding with her kids over good stories.