Babies learn at a fantastic rate—and one of the first skills they begin to pick up is speech. Language development forms the foundation for almost everything your child will do after that, including the relationships they build, their ability to follow instructions, how they interact with their environment, and eventually how well they'll do in kindergarten and beyond. As parents, help your son or daughter develop their language skills early with tips from the following child care guide.

The Language Development Process

As early as three months of age, your baby will pay attention and be soothed when you talk. They may make cooing sounds in response. By six months, they should respond to the emotions in your voice, express some of their own with their tone, and babble. Most babies have learned their first few words by the time they reach one year old. To do all of this, they rely on your example.

Child Care Tips to Encourage Your Baby to Talk

Your child learns by watching and imitating you. Therefore, talk to them as much as possible. Even before they learn words, help them learn the back-and-forth rhythm of conversation by pausing to let them babble, then responding. They also notice when you respond positively to what they do. Make happy and excited faces when they coo or babble and imitate the sounds they make to reinforce them.

Should You Use Baby Talk?

Baby talk is also called "infant-directed speech" and refers to a specific speaking pattern that uses a singsong voice, exaggerated emotions, and very clear vowels and consonants. Some have hypothesized that this hurts a baby’s ability to develop language. However, recent studies show that all this exaggeration helps them learn those features of speech. They can more easily tell the difference between the sounds you're making, which helps them understand and imitate you. The changes in pitch also help keep your child interested in your voice.

For skilled child care with a focus on learning and development, choose Little Hands at Work & Play. This Omaha, NE, day care's trained caregivers provide Douglas County children with engaging play, thoughtful education, and a nurturing environment. There are also cameras in every room to allow you to check in on your child. For more on their programs, visit them online. To ask about availability, call (402) 493-6615.