Tune into your child and follow her lead
A baby will smile and look at you if she is ready to communicate. Keep talking and playing as long as she's interested. Stop when she signals she's had enough. She may cry, turn her head away or arch her back. Focus on words or objects that are central to her life or on which she is focusing. For example, if she is watching a cat, talk about the cat rather than something else.
Know what to expect from your child
Both expecting too much or too little of your child can be harmful, so it's important to
know if your child is developing and progressing at an acceptable rate.
(See stages of language development). If you have any concerns over your child's
language development, visit www.talkingpoint.org.uk or talk to your health visitor.
Be a good listener
Shortly after birth, a child expresses himself with sounds and facial expressions. When he coos or babbles, be quiet and listen. Make eye contact and get face to face with your child. Then respond with comments such as "Is that right? What a good story you're telling me." When your toddler rushes in, obviously anxious to tell you something, set a good example by stopping what you are doing, if possible, and give him your full attention. By giving your child your undivided attention you will show him how to listen to others.
Be a good model
Experts believe that you shouldn't use 'baby talk' when talking to young children. For example, instead of saying "You want your baba. Me so hungry", say "You want your bottle. You're so hungry". Speak clearly, naturally and correctly. 'Baby talk' should not be confused with 'parentese', where adults use a softer, higher-pitched, affectionate voice which is easier for babies to decode.
Help your child develop listening skills
Children must listen to learn and learn to listen. Try to point out sounds around them, such as a clock ticking or a plane flying overhead. Point to the noise and say "listen." Talk about the sounds your child makes when she is in the bath, clapping hands or banging pots. More on listening
Play music, sing songs and recite rhymes
Psychologists believe music benefits babies in the earliest months of life, when their brain connections are forming. Playing music also helps children develop listening skills. When you play music, sing along, dance or do the actions - show your enjoyment and your child will have fun too. Learn more about rhymes
Read to your baby
It's never too early to share books with children. Reading together is an enjoyable experience that will help you to bond with your child. It will also help your child develop visual, vocabulary and listening skills, which will help her to read later on. Learn more about reading with your baby
Praise, praise and more praise
Show your baby how excited you are when he smiles, imitates your mouth movements or says new words. Praise your child for even the smallest accomplishments but resist the temptation to have your child "perform" for others, unless he enjoys doing so.
It's normal for your child to make mistakes as they work out the sounds and structures of language. When your child makes a mistake, say the correct word without any fuss. For example if your child says "Gog", say "Yes, it's a dog." If a child makes the same mistakes over many weeks, however, this could be due to poor hearing and it advisable to get a hearing check.
Recognise and create learning opportunities
Going to the zoo or a museum provides your child with a wonderful opportunity to learn about the world, but these are not everyday activities. Try to make talking a part of everything that you and your child do together, whether it's supermarket shopping, bath time, walking to the bus stop or cooking dinner. More about talking
Based on the chapter "Creating a language-rich environment" in How to talk to your baby, Dorothy P. Dougherty, Avery, 1999.
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