Talking to your baby from birth [especially when hearing-devices are worn], is crucial for their infant language development. While most babies hear for two months before birth, there will be babies with hearing devices who need to build up their word and sound-vocabulary after missing sounds earlier on.
Chatting During Family Time
One book, Small Talk, by parents for parents, has lesson-plans to develop language in toddlers. Its writers discuss parent-child chats around digital devices but suggest this time is shared, and limited. Similarly, during TV time, parents can comment on what a show is presenting to its audience.
‘Small Talk’ for parents to build little ones’ language skills
Parent Guidance
For parents who want coaching and strategies to teach their children to hear and talk, there is remote access to auditory-verbal therapy by telepractice from specific centres in the US. Print resources for home-work with children are routinely available online, free of charge from these learning centres.
What parents value most about auditory-verbal therapy.
Language – and Behaviour
With confirmed links between a child’s language ability and behaviour, this learning-window is being tapped by early-years educators and services.
Can Early Language Development Promote Childrens’ Wellbeing?
Family interaction is an opportunity for everyone to learn to slow down and really listen to what’s being said. This is a very transferable skill in today’s fast-paced, diverse world with running distractions at every juncture.
Some resources to start you off:
- Get Chatty Programme For Baby Talk (US)
- KidTalk (Canada) – interaction ideas and reading guidance.
More Reading
- Talking To Pre-Term Babies Builds Language Skills
- Early Interaction With Babies For Communication
- ‘Hear More Words, Speak More Words’ – Literally
- When Children Read – And Speak – The Same Words
- Words Better For Child Language Development
- Hearing And Education Services – Via Telepractice
