Deciphering Baby Babble
IN TODDLERS' HEALTH
Watching your child grow and learn to communicate is one of the most fascinating aspects of parenthood, but it can be challenging. When it comes to communication, how can you know if your child is up to par?
Children learn to talk primarily through observing their family members over time. For toddlers, vocalization and speaking are exciting new activities. As your child learns to speak, you can do several things to help him or her succeed.
To help encourage your child’s communication skills, try these pointers:
- Talk to your child, even if he or she is not old enough to talk back. Doing so will help your child learn about communication patterns, making him or her a stronger communicator when he or she starts to talk.
- Teach your child words that express feeling. At a young age, it’s easy for a child to throw a temper tantrum instead of using communication to work through frustration. Any time your child gets upset, take the opportunity to explain the feeling and how to work through it.
- Use single words or phrases when talking to your child and listen to his or her responses. Listening is just as important as speaking when it comes to communication.
If you feel your child may be struggling with communication development, contact your pediatrician. You doctor can put you in touch with a speech pathologist who can help your child become an expert speaker.
| Gather ‘Round the Table
Having trouble finding time to get your entire family together? The answer is easier than you think. Dinnertime is the ideal opportunity to get your family together to eat and, more importantly, talk to each other. For children of any age, family dinners can have a dramatic effect on communication skills and their relationship with parents. For toddlers, vocalizing at the dinner table is quite a stretch, but very young children are still able to communicate. To encourage your child, try these tips:
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Sources: childaware.org, livestrong.com, health.state.ny.us
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