Do these 5 things regularly to see your child's language blossom!
One of the most asked questions I get as a speech therapist is something along the lines of "My baby isn't talking yet, should I be worried?" The short answer depends on the child's age. There are so many things to consider other than word count alone, but if a child is not talking at all by 2 years old, that would be very concerning to me. Alarms aside, if your child is under 1 and/or approaching, there are lots of things to consider (and do!) before jumping right to extreme concern.
Bottom line: you know your child best and there is no harm in feeling concerned, asking questions, or seeking resources to support them! Try incorporating these 5 tips as a part of your plan to support your baby as they grow and develop. If alarms are going off, no matter how old your baby is, I will never tell you to "wait and see". Always go with your gut and ask for help if you need it!
Tip #1 - Follow a routine
As I mentioned above, there is much more to consider than just how many words your child can say. Do they point or show you things? Can they follow simple directions? Are they able to nonverbally identify common objects or actions? Creating and following routines really helps develop these skills! Think about activities that occur frequently and in a similar fashion from day to day, like bath time, breakfast, or getting ready for daycare/school. Use these naturally repetitive opportunities to expose your child to the language and tasks associated with each routine.
Tip #2 - Model, model, model
The brain has these really cool neurons called mirror neurons. The purpose of these neurons is to imitate or mirror what they see. It is one of the reasons your baby will stick their tongue out at you if you stick yours out at them. They also come in handy as you are teaching your child new skills. This concept also works with language! Just maybe not because of the mirror neurons themselves, which are more for actions. Language modeling quite literally looks like putting on your David Attenborough hat and narrating your life (and your child's) out in the wild--okay, maybe you're just at the park, but you get it! Talk to them about everything. What you are doing, what they are doing, what others are doing, what you see, how something looks, feels, tastes... the list goes on. And then wait quietly from time to time. Be patient and hold space as your child begins to imitate and use words to intentionally communicate with you thanks to your hard work in narration and language modeling!
"40 conversational turns per hour is the number of interactions caregivers should aim for." – LENA*
Tip #3 - Sign language
Sign language is a wonderful communication tool that can help decrease frustration. Remember those mirror neurons? Imitating actions is easier than imitating words in the beginning. Having clear and identifiable signs for functional requests (ex: more, all done, break, milk, juice, eat) supports understanding of cause and effect AND gives your child autonomy to advocate for their needs. Sign language does NOT decrease or delay verbal language development.
Tip #4 - Be forgetful
As parents and caregivers, you know your child better than anyone! Because of this super power, it can be easy to give in to your ability to anticipate your child's need(s) before they have had an opportunity to express them. So, be forgetful sometimes! Give your child a chance to express their wants and needs in the best way they know how. You're not breaking the rules if you jump in and help, but you might be surprised by what they're capable of when they are given time to sit in the space between learning and knowing.
Tip #5 - Keep it simple
Speaking and understanding are pretty high cognitive skills! As you are doing all of the above, remember to keep your language simple or just a small step above wherever they are. Focus on using specific words (less this, that, them, those) in clear statements. Questions and negations (ex: don't run) are tricky and require a higher level of thinking that is not easily accessible to most toddlers without patience and practice. If it seems they are "not listening", simplify your language and make clear statements. This supports their ability to process and conceptualize what is being said to them.
It may feel like you're out in the wild at times, but I'm here to help!
The above tips are tried and true, but please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions or are feeling concerned about your child's development. I would love to connect with you and support you! You can email me directly at kknowsley@cradetotable.com or comment your questions below.
*Visit https://www.lena.org/interaction-in-early-childhood-education/ to review research and learn more about the importance of early and interactive talk! This post is not suggesting that a LENA device is necessary for your child to achieve quality language skills; however, the research and findings tied to early and interactive talk is quite impactful!
Comments