Support your baby's language with these simple routines
The ability to communicate with others through speech does not come naturally. If a child is not exposed to language, he or she will not learn to speak. This is why it is important to take advantage of the opportunities we have to intentionally interact with our infants and support their language development.
9 Routines to support language
Look into her/his eyes: Your baby learns to speak by imitation. Therefore, she/he needs to see you move your lips, so that he can associate them to the sound he hears. In time, your baby will try to do the same.
Talk to her/him every day: Your little one's brain is always alert. When you talk to her/him, you activate the region of the brain that processes language, thereby helping your baby build his database of familiar sounds. The first year of life is key to his learning, as he starts to discriminate the sounds he really needs to communicate.
Read all the time: Reading is the best investment of time for your baby's development. It creates a sense of security by being closer to you, grow his vocabulary, promotes self-control, and encourages a lifelong love of reading. It is magic!.
Give her/him the opportunity to express herself/himself: Sometimes we want to help children communicate because we already know what they want, robbing them of the opportunity to express themselves. Encourage them by modeling how to say it correctly and acknowledge their efforts.
Use complete words: A child's vocabulary in kindergarten predicts how well they will do academically in middle school and high school. Take advantage of the early years to offer an environment rich in language. Use common, practical words, but do not shy away from sophisticated and subject specific words, as well. Your baby was born ready to learn.
The mirror is your friend: Some experts suggest using the mirror to play, dance, and at the same time show children how we move our mouths when we speak. It helps them to see themselves and to see our reflexion, offering more opportunities to learn to express themselves and to communicate.
The cell phone is not recommended: Let's make one thing clear, human interaction is necessary to learn to speak. A screen entertains, but it doesn't interact. Take advantage of the critical periods of the first years to enrich their linguistic repertoire with your words.
Try to socialize: Look for opportunities to interact with other children of similar ages. Music classes, story hours, Spanish classes (if you are outside your country). These experiences enrich and stimulate speech development. Plus, it prepares them for preschool.
Try to be present: Even if your day is full of tasks, prioritize the interaction with your baby. Every interaction - no matter how small - is part of the conversation and is helping your baby’s brain develop adequately. When you are present, you respond better to their needs and strengthen the emotional bond between you.
