Did you know that even infants show early signs of speech and language development? Yes, even before they can speak, your kids are growing in this area. They’re developing skills and receiving knowledge about language before either of you can really realize it. So, what are the stages of this kind of development? Where does it all begin? Does the process of this development ever end? These are all questions that we can answer as we explore the world of speech and language development.
Infants respond to lots of different sounds. Loud noises startle them and familiar sounds or voices catch their attention. And they even make their own vocal noises to convey messages! They cry when they’re hungry, sleepy, or in pain. They might laugh or coo when they feel comfortable. These might all occur before and during the 3-6 month old period. As your little one grows closer to 6 months, you’ll hear the baby making other kinds of sounds. He or she may start babbling, as if to carry on a conversation! At this age, babies have recognized that talking is how people usually communicate. They’ve noticed it happening around them and they usually want to give it a try!
Between 6 and 8 months old, infants this desire to communicate only continues. If you have a child in this age group, you’ll notice a little more babbling. Infants this age are the ones who usually make the “goo-goo, ga-ga” sounds. You’ll probably even hear your baby actually try to hold a real conversation. He or she will learn to wait for you to finish speaking before they babble a response. Infants from 6 to 8 months old will turn to the source of a voice, even if they didn’t see the person when they were talking.
After your child turns one, he or she will continue to grow in the area of communication. At this age, babies don’t usually speak very clearly. They still babble most words. But, they’ll begin to understand and respond to simple directions. You can tell your 15-month-old little girl to put on her hat or walk to the door. She will understand what you’re telling her to do!
Just like at 12-months, your 18-month-old will probably not speak very clearly. But, he or she might use simple sentences to express thoughts. You might hear your son say, “Mommy, mine?” Or, he may repeat certain parts of your instruction. For example, you may say, “Please, take off your coat.” Your son might then say something like, “Coat off?” This shows that your child understands the act of giving and asking for information.
As your child gets closer to the age of 2, you’ll see even more changes in communication. Kids this age are actually able to understand hundreds of words. They can say a lot of them, too. They are understanding more of your basic instructions. Children this age ask questions often and make gestures to get their thoughts across to you.
The first few stages of speech and language development are amazing to watch! Your kids are starting to hold small conversations with you. And, they’re also learning to communicate with others. It’s always good for children to learn from their parents. But, they can also learn a lot from their peers. When little ones are surrounded by others their age, they watch and gather from one another.
Would you like to let your children learn along with others? How about considering Ivy Prep Early Learning Academy? Here, our educators monitor your kids’ speech and language development. We make sure your kids have the chance to grow in every area. We love to see them develop and we share their progress with you! Want to find out more information about our facilities? Contact us at (866) 216-6750!