A baby's words are music to every parent's ear. Speech and language development of a child is really a beautiful thing and it is one among milestones parents look forward to. Though every child is different and learns to speak at his/her own pace, there are things which are considered not normal in terms of speech according to their age that require a trip to the doctor to determine what the problem may be, it is called speech delay.
Speech development has a great influence to each child as it is the main center of communication even at their infancy. It is a support in cognitive and building and maintaining relationship as well as comprehension ability. As a child grows, it helps him to understand things around him and the basis of learning to read and write.
When do you think a child starts to develop his speech and language development?
At a very early age, as soon as the baby reach the end of his second month of his life he can already starts to coo. Within his infancy stage ( 2-12 months), aside from cooing, he is already able to respond to different sounds around him and try to communicate . Is able to laugh and interact with gestures like waving and pointing.You hear him babble, when getting older. A baby is also able to respond to his name when called.
When my kids are nearing their first year of age, I can hear some syllables which later turn into words like "papa, tat, no, mammam" and others. However, they still don't understand the meaning of words but when you keep communicating with them using also their words with their corresponding meaning in your language then they will be able to pick it up and be able to know what that word means even before they turn one.
There are actually 2 phases that a child develops in a speech and language development that usually start at 12 months. These are called receptive language and expressive language. Receptive language is their ability to understand words and sounds while expressive language is the ability to use speech and gestures to communicate.
Babies own words and not babbling is called jargon a stage called jargon phase wherein babies have their own words. It is a mix made-up words, and words that are understandable and with meanings. This phase happens at 12months to their 18th month. They are saying more syllables and adding to their vocabulary which correspond to a word. At this stage, a child responds to words through following simple instructions. He is also able to recognize names of family members and familiar objects.
My youngest starting at his 12th month, for example is able to recognize our clothes when I'm folding by saying papa, mama, ate and uya(kuya). He was also able to show his body parts when asked by blinking his eyes, blowing his nose, smacking his mouth, sticking his tongue, showing his teeth, holding his hair or feet and clapping his hands.
My son is already 19 months old and I can see he is trying to put two words together. By 18 to 24 months of age, a child has already added more words to his vocabulary and is able to put two words together or phrases. The stage wherein they talk a lot and can also sing though it is not understandable, trying to imitate the tune of a kids song he usually hears. A toddler can already name body parts. Point to something that is asked. He can also name toys and animals. 20-50 words is the average meaningful words an 18 months to 2 year old can say.
Starting 2 years old to 3, a child can already put words into sentences. It's not only family members who can understand their language but strangers also do. Some are even like adults when talked to.
A child's curiosity grows as he grows also. He starts to talk a wider range of topics when already around to 3 to 5 years old. Sometimes you will be amaze by a new word with a deep meaning that he had spoken, examples are those that are seldomly used words by adults. At this age, a child already can say how or what his day in preschool was like.
Talking about telling what or how his day was, a child becomes more of a storyteller at around 5 and at more improved as he is reaching the age of 8.
Is there a particular stage wherein you can talk with your child?
Of course you can start as early as possible even when your child is still a newborn, especially during breastfeeding. This is also considered bonding moment with your lo. Talk with your child more as he is growing because he acquires and absorbs more sounds from you that helps in his language and communication development. Children has different learning speech pace but talking and simply telling him what you are doing, or describing to him objects around, immitating animal sounds and many others help a lot build his vocabulary.
It may sound silly talking to a baby who's not talking a lot but it is the key why other children can talk earlier than their age group. But we need to consider that each child is different that while some are outgoing and jolly talkers, some are also quite. Nevertheless, quite is different from speech delayed. Even if your child is quite but has a normal vocabulary according to his age then it's ok, maybe he's just the quite type. While speech delayed is not normal when they have less vocabulary that have to correspond with their age.
There are some ways in helping a child in his speech and language milestone, aside from talking.
Do not let yourself be the only one to talk. Listen to your lo especially when he's already said his first word. And as an adult pick what he said even if its a syllable only. And because he has more gestures than words during the start of his learning, don't ignore him but respond to his gestures instead. It will encourage a child to communicate with you all the more.
Though babies to toddlers to early schoolers has a limited understanding, read to them still. Reading to them interesting children stories make them hear different words that will be added to their vocabulary. It will increase their curiosity and widen their literacy.
Some children are exeptional, those who have English as the second language in their country, meaning those places who talk dominantly in their dialect and only learn and speak straight English when inside the classroom. Like in our place, we usually talk with our babies in English but not fully. It is because English words are shorter and the baby can easily pick it examples are names of animals, toys and other objects while others really talk with their lo purely in English that's why their child grows up to be English speaking.
Due to the influence of technology, some parents let their lo watch an educational TV channel like that of Dora the explorer which does not only allow Dora to talk but encourages the viewer to answer her questions. When you hear the child talk, you will be amaze by how wide his vocabulary was with only the Tv as his teacher. Not only that, they also have an accent they pick from what they have been watching.
Nevertheless, what has good result with one is not the same with the other. Like letting a child watched for a long period just so the parent can do her chores is not good. It may make other child learn to speak English but will make the other speech delayed.
Each child is different but when it comes to speech development, talking more and listening more is the simplest form of help in this milestone. However, because you know your child best than anyone else, and is not developing his speech and language according to his age then consult your pediatrician.
related topics:
Development Milestone(toddler): Potty Training
z_graeden
I remember reading that it's bad to indulge the baby in baby babble so it's better to talk to them as if they were kids so the chance of speech delay is lesser?