The easiest way to get your child to talk is by talking to them- especially in the first year of life.
"So many of the foundational language skills are laid down in that first year of development," says Margit Pukonen, Director of the Speech Program at the Speech and Stuttering Institute in Toronto. "You don't learn language when it's being spoken impersonally somewhere. Babies need to be part of the experience." So talking to them directly is very important.
Sounds simple and it is. Here are some tips to get gabbing:
- Talk to your baby in whatever language you want. You can also speak more than one language if you wish.
- Read a book to your baby every day. The language does not matter.
- Play out loud. "Mommy is putting the cow in the barn. The cow says 'moo'"
- When they coo, coo back. They are talking to you.
- Exaggerate your facial expressions when you're talking to them.
- Be very responsive. Attribute meaning to the cooing to get a conversational routine going ("You sound like you're hungry. Are you hungry?"). They love listening to the tone of your voice.
- Label things. If your child is looking at a cat, say "cat." Tell them what they are seeing.
- Don't use too much or complex language. Keep it simple.
- Play back-and-forth games like peek-a-boo.
- Sing songs that require a response like "Old MacDonald."
Remember the more you talk, the more they learn. So start chatting and have fun!
