Being a parent, nothing is as thrilling as listening to your child’s first words. This development stage can be considered as a step of the early verbal communication with others and an opportunity to enhance a child’s ways of expressing herself or himself. In this article, you will learn various useful tips that will stimulate language development in your baby and help him or her start the exciting journey into this, quite literally, wordless world.
Table of Content:
- Baby First Words
- Baby First Words List
- When Should Baby Say First Word
- Helping Baby Talk
- Teaching Baby to Talk
- How to Encourage Baby to Speak
- References
Baby First Words:
The first words your baby produces are the sum of his or her months of learning how to listen, watch, and comprehend language. Of course, every kid is unique and grows in their own way, however, it is for the most part common for babies to start speaking and their first word is between 10-14 months old. These early attempts are, therefore, basic and concern matters or people frequent in the child’s everyday environment.
In this respect, it should be realized that before learners can speak, they convey messages using factors including crying, cooing, and gesturing. Such gestures are connected with the development of future language skills, and are used before any actual speaking happens.
Baby First Words List:
As every child is individual there are some basic words that should be in the idea-making of a child. Every baby comes into the world with their own special personality, however, there are some everyday words that are always in each baby’s vocabulary. Here’s a list of typical first words many babies say:
- Mama/Dada
- Hi/Bye
- No
- Dog/Cat
- Ball
- Milk
- More
- Baby
- Up
- Uh-oh
Please bear in mind that this list is not all-encompassing and your baby might suddenly start using phrasal verbs relating to their context or a sphere of interest. The point more focused on is that every new word should be welcomed when it is being produced and this does not in any manner reduce the uniqueness of a child’s first word even if that first word is a common one.
When Should Baby Say First Word:
Earlier it was said that on an average, most babies give their first word in between the ages of 10 to 14 months. However, we need to expect that language development is individual for every child and the terms as well as the moments of language development can be different. While some babies start speaking at a tender age of 8 months and may start making sounds that can be assumed to be words, other babies may take 18 months or even a year and a half before they start talking their first word.
If up to 18 months your baby has not generated any word, it is recommended to seek medical advice from a pediatrician. Taking your child to a pediatrician regularly they can be able to do that and tell you whether there are any red flags. Please, do not worry if your child is a late talker, as I was, for example, Albert Einstein who was talking only at the age of 4.
Helping Baby Talk:
Helping your baby talk involves creating a language-rich environment. Here are some strategies you can employ:
- Talk to your baby frequently: Record your actions and verbally explain what you do,imagine what you are observing.
- Use simple language: Ensure that your pronunciation is clear and the amount of language use that is done is in small phrases that could easily be imitated by the baby.
- Respond to your baby’s coos and babbles: This fosters mutual interaction, which is an important ingredient of any dialogue since it enhances the process of taking turns among the speakers.
- Read to your baby daily: But even if they do not know what the words are meaning then they are learning about words and how they construct them and the rhythms of language.
- Sing songs and nursery rhymes: Thus, songs which contain different syllables repeated back in patterns and rhythms which are easy to mimic, would be beneficial when learning a new language.
Teaching Baby to Talk:
While babies naturally learn language through exposure and interaction, there are ways you can support and enhance this process:
- Use gestures along with words: For example, wave while saying “bye-bye” or point to objects as you name them.
- Provide opportunities for social interaction:Arrange playdates or visit family members to expose your baby to different voices and communication styles.
- Limit screen time: The American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations state that babies under 18 months should spend no more than an hour a day in front of a screen and should not use apps that are designed to entertain.
- Encourage imitation:You can choose to make funny faces or silly sounds and pick your baby up and show them imitate you. This builds the foundation for mimicking words later.
- Use positive reinforcement: Encourage your baby to do something like a gesture, a baby talk or utter a word, celebrate the effort they are putting in.
How to Encourage Baby to Speak:
To facilitate baby speaking there is need to facilitate the nature of the surrounding environment in the following ways. Here are some effective strategies:
Look at what your baby is looking at and narrate it to them. When you are pointing at an object, for instance a dog, you can reply, ‘Yes that is a dog; the dog barks ‘woof woof’ .
- Use parallel talk: Describe what your baby is doing. For example, “You’re stacking the blocks. The position of the red block is placed above the blue block.”
- Expand on your baby’s words: For instance, if your baby says, “ball” you will answer, “Yes, that is a big red ball.”
- Create opportunities for communication: Place the objects which are required often, just beyond the baby’s reach so that he has to request for the same.
- Play word games: Simple games like “Where’s your nose?” or “What does the cow say?” can encourage verbal responses.
- Be patient: Give your baby time to respond. They may require a bit of time in order to digest what you have said and prepare an answer.
- Minimize background noise: Avoid having on the TV or radio when talking to the baby so that the baby can be able to concentrate on the words you are saying.
Once again, to remind them that every baby is unique and will grow at his or her own rate. First of all, parents should provide a proper stimulating environment, loving and supporting their baby while playing and encouraging him to experiment with the words. Every little moment is a big accomplishment for your child so make sure to always appreciate this stage of wonderment and learning.
When you follow these strategies routinely, you will be offering your baby the best start to his or her language development. Before you know it, your baby will be gregariously chatting away with you and that little chatterbox!
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