Language development happens best during play! Here are some ways to play to help your child develop:
- Get on the floor with your little one to play, whether it is with bubbles, blocks, cars or reading their first words in a picture book. Just make sure during this play time that you are labeling objects so you child can learn to associate those pictures with what they are called.
- When at home or out of the house, bombard your child with language and vocabulary so that the they can associate the words with real objects.
- Play in the mirror. This helps your child learn to imitate facial expressions or imitate familiar sounds.
- Avoid using “baby talk” when speaking with your child and instead use real words when calling them by their name. This will also teach them what their name is!
- Babble familiar sounds face to face. Examples are (b, m, p, d).
- Waving is a great way to teach your child to communicate. It is important for them to understand saying "goodbye"when they are leaving.
Doing these things will help with their language development and help them meet their milestones! Visit our Milestones Blog or Milestones Videos page to learn more about developmental milestones at each stage of life.