By Linda Acredolo, Ph.D. & Susan Goodwyn, Ph.D.
A natural question is: If all kids eventually learn to talk, why does it matter how soon they do so? Isn’t this just another example of competitive parents pushing their babies to outshine the baby next door? The answer is no. It does, in fact, matter how early and easily your child learns to talk. Language is your child’s passport into many of life’s most important experiences.
For example, even the relationship between parent and child changes in very positive ways once the child becomes a true partner in conversation. Frustration levels diminish as needs can be expressed clearly, parents find it more rewarding to engage in conversation, both asking and answering questions, and children begin to enjoy sharing their own ideas about the world—singing songs, telling stories, and playing make-believe.
Language opens up the world beyond the family, too. When do babies finally stop playing alone and begin to play with peers? When they can talk to each other. When do children begin to share things at circle time? When they feel confident enough to express themselves. When do children begin to really learn about the world? When they can ask questions and understand answers. In short, language skills are just as integral to the lives of children as they are to the lives of adults. And then there’s school where the ability to follow instructions and answer questions is crucial.
In general, then, whether at home, in the classroom, or on the playground, being adept at language makes life easier and more satisfying, both for children and for the adults around them.
Now that you know how important language is to your child’s future, here’s the good news. Even from the earliest days, there are easy ways to support your child’s development of this critical skill. Here are just a few examples from our book, Baby Minds: Brain-Building Games Your Baby Will Love:
Birth to 6 Months. Talk to your baby using speech sounds to encourage him to make speech sounds, too.
6 Months to 9 Months. Ask questions when using books with your baby even though you still have to supply the answers.
9 Months to 12 Months. Begin in earnest teaching your baby to use signs to communicate.
12 Months to 18 Months. Make sure to provide lots of toys that lend themselves to make-believe.
18 Months to 24 Months. Cheerfully read storybooks over and over and over.
24 Months to 30 Months. Engage your child in dialog about the books you read together by asking questions.
30 Months to 36 Months. Carve out time at bedtime for a one-on-one conversation about the day’s events.
