Baby Talk: How does language develop in babies?

PHOENIX - How does language develop in your toddler? When do we know there could be an issue? We check in with Dr. Lynne Kenney, the author of the Family Coach Method for some answers.

SF: How does language develop?
Dr. Lynne Kenney: Babies are born primed to learn language. The watch the mouths of others to learn oral motor movement skills, listen for sounds to imitate and begin to understand receptive and non-verbal language as early as four months of age.

SF: How do we introduce language to toddlers?
Dr. Lynne Kenney: Three ways:

1. Object naming
Naming objects, colors, numbers, sounds and characters introduces words that become familiar to baby. When a bus goes by and a caregiver says "bus" and then "beep beep" this supports baby's pre-linguistic skills. Research shows that between 8-12 months of age babies begin to distinguish the beginning of words, particularly when they begin with consonant sounds. As you read books, cook in your kitchen, watch videos, travel by car or listen to books on tape describe what you are doing, name objects for baby, place objects within babies reach and say what they are. Your toddler is likely to lift the object, look at the object, hand the object to you and even try to repeat the words or sounds.

2. Visual cueing
Visual cueing is also important for cognitive and academic growth. Name the colors that begin with consonants such as red, green, blue, and purple. Adding a multi-sensory learning component may also be beneficial for pre-linguistic and cognitive development. As the child grows to toddlerhood and beyond, using visual-clues to enhance cognitive and language development may be done by asking questions about the functionality of an object as well as showing the object in use.

3. Face-to-face communication
Research shows that infants, toddlers and preschoolers rely on sight to imitate language skills. So speak face to face as you play and learn together.

SF: How do songs, poems and storybooks help?
Dr. Lynne Kenney: Well, singing and rhythmic patterns such as Dr. Seuss teach pre-phonic skills known as phonemic awareness.

SF: How do we know if our little one has language development or processing challenges?
Dr. Lynne Kenney: Difficulty reproducing sounds, understanding simple directions, only speaking vowel sounds and having difficulty with rhyming sounds can be early signs of language and future reading issues. So if your child does not age appropriate language skills by 18 months of age see a qualified speech language specialist.

SF: What is the best thing a parent can do to help their child learn language?
Dr. Lynne Kenney: Children learn language through interaction and play, so get outside, go to museums, draw, paint, name objects, talk about what you are doing as you do it and your child's brain will learn along side of you.