From the moment your child is born, you can create a colorful garden of sounds and words. By talking, listening, and responding to her coos, gurgles, and words, you lay a rich foundation for language skills to take root. But more than that, you encourage her to identify and express her own thoughts and feelings and help her to make sense of the world.

Cultivate conversation
Like gardening, tending to a budding conversationalist requires the right tools:

Nurture your baby’s communication

• Talk early and often. As you talk with your baby, pause to give her a chance to respond. Take a break if she turns her head away or seems over-stimulated.
• Stay close. Let your baby watch your face and mouth as you speak. Diaper changing, feeding, and bathing times provide ideal talking moments.
• Speak “baby.” Use a higher-pitched voice, speak slowly, and talk in a singsong rhythm to capture your baby’s attention and help her to tune in to you.

Nourish your toddler’s active imagination

• Do and describe. Simply describing and talking with your child about everyday actions and objects is a great way to introduce new words.
• Talk and pause. After you ask a question, pause and wait for your toddler to respond. Words can take time!
• Say it again. Repeat and use new words often to help your child “lock in” their meaning and how to use them correctly.

Harvest your preschooler’s bright ideas

• Make time to listen. The more you listen, the more your little one will talk. This also helps build an important sense of trust.
• Ask questions. Encourage your child to tell you more about her ideas and feelings. Be sure to listen and respond to her questions too.
• Keep it going. As your child’s vocabulary grows, remember to repeat what she says and change your child’s words and phrases into sentences.

By talking with you, your child’s language skills will begin to bloom. So keep the conversation flowing … and the learning growing!

Special thanks to Alice Honig, Ph.D., Nina Sazer O’Donnell, and Kathy Hirsh Pasek, Ph.D., for the generous donation of their valuable time and expertise in reviewing this edition of Bits of Understanding.

Civitas thanks Parents as Teachers, an international early childhood parent education and family support program, for their ongoing support. This Civitas tool was adapted for the Born Learning campaign.

© 2007 Civitas