Talking to your baby throughout the day doesn’t just help build a bond between you and them, talking also helps your child learn language. Your child’s brain is constantly learning language, and the more you talk to them the more they have to absorb. Consistently narrating your day will help your child understand the world around them. As your child gets older they will start to respond with their own sounds and begin verbally communicating with you. There are many ways you can incorporate talk into your child’s day.
Incorporating Talk In Your Daily Routine
- You can sing a familiar song or a song that you’ve made up in that moment. Singing also slows down words and helps your child learn the sounds that make up words.
- Name everything thing you see around your home or at the grocery store or at the library. The more you talk to your child, the more they learn about the world around them.
- Animal sounds help your child learn the sounds that make up words.
- Narrate what you are doing step by step. If you are changing your child’s diaper, you can take the opportunity tell your child what you are doing along the way.
- When your baby babbles and coos at you, repeat those same sounds back to them. They will love hearing you repeat their sounds.
- When you ask your child a question make sure you – pause – and give them the chance to respond. Even if your child doesn’t answer back, this helps them understand the back and forth of communicating.
- When you come across a rare word while reading a picture book, take a moment to explain what it means. This helps your child build their vocabulary.
- When reading a book, you can ask your child to “read” the pictures to you.
- When taking a walk, talk about everything you see or hear.
- If English is not your first language, talk to your child in the language you are most comfortable with. This will make communicating with your child easier and more fluent. It is important for you to feel comfortable talking to your child, no matter the language.
Books that encourage talking. Stop and talk about the pictures or ask question about you see or what is coming next.