6 Ways to Foster Early Language Development

The following is from Development Through the Lifespan, by Laura E. Berk.

1. Respond to coos and babbles with speech sounds and words.
2. Establish joint attention and comment on what child sees.
3. Play social games, such as pat-a-cake and peekaboo.
4. Engage toddlers in joint make-believe play.
5. Engage toddlers in frequent conversations.
6. Read to toddlers often, engaging them in dialogue about picture books.

Put these into practice and your child will develop their language skills well. They will experiment “with sounds that can later be blended into first words.” They will learn turn-taking for conversation. Their vocabulary will develop faster. They will grow in their conversation ability, develop language earlier and likely enable greater academic success later. Reading “provides exposure to many aspects of language, including vocabulary, grammar, communication skills, and information about written symbols and story structure.”