Infant: Language/Literacy Development |
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Articles
Read some of the articles below to learn more about helping your child develop their language and literacy skills! Below the articles, you will find more information specific to your child's age.
1-4 Months
Videos about Infant Language and Literacy Development |
For the first few months, your infant picks up on the rhythm of language - rather than the content - as she hears you speak. Repetition is good because it helps your baby build language skills. It's never to early to read to your infant. Your infant won't understand your words, but hearing your voice stimulates an interest in sounds and helps her develop listening skills.
Your infant communicates her needs primarily through crying (crying most frequent in the first 3 months). Your infant can make vowel sounds and produces single syllables. Coos, gurgles, and sighs. You will notice that your baby cries differently when tired, hungry, or in pain. Pay attention to these nonverbal cues and respond to your newborn’s cries with warmth and consistency. |
5-8 Months
Your infant follows your face with her gaze. She laughs in response to playful interaction. She uses gestures, eye contact and verbal sounds to communicate. Your infant will begin babbling and enjoys hearing her own voice. You will notice improvement in jaw control and also a first tooth! Your infant can also seek attention in other ways than crying.
Sounds like m, n, t, d, p, y begin to appear in babbling. Your infant can use a wide variety of sound combinations and can babble tunefully (singing tones). Reduplicative babbling begins such as, “ba-ba-ba” or “ma- ma-ma”, etc.
Talk to her often, especially when you are doing routine care, such as diapering, feeding, and moving her from one place to another. Describe what you are doing, label objects, and respond to her babbling.
Reading to your infant helps build vocabulary, stimulates imagination, and improves communication skills. The more you speak to your infant from the get-go, the better it is for her growth and development.
Sounds like m, n, t, d, p, y begin to appear in babbling. Your infant can use a wide variety of sound combinations and can babble tunefully (singing tones). Reduplicative babbling begins such as, “ba-ba-ba” or “ma- ma-ma”, etc.
Talk to her often, especially when you are doing routine care, such as diapering, feeding, and moving her from one place to another. Describe what you are doing, label objects, and respond to her babbling.
Reading to your infant helps build vocabulary, stimulates imagination, and improves communication skills. The more you speak to your infant from the get-go, the better it is for her growth and development.
9-12 Months
At this stage of development, your infant can follow your line of vision and looks at what you are looking at. She uses gestures, eye contact, and sounds to direct your behavior. She may even begin to say her first words, experimenting with word sounds. She may acquire a first true word. She will also use exclamations, such as, “oh-oh!” and can wave bye. She will also vocalize to a mirror.
Reading to your infant introduces her to the concepts of stories, numbers, letters, colors, and shapes, and gives her information about the world around her. Reading small board books that your infant can grasps is a great way to continue preparing her for early literacy. She may want to place the book in her mouth and chew on the corners, so prepare to replace books often.
One way to help your infant develop language at this stage of her development is to use finger plays. Songs that use simple hand motions, such as the Eensy Weensy Spider; Where is Thumbkin and Open, Shut Them are examples of fingerplays that are fun and help your infant to develop memory and language.
Reading to your infant introduces her to the concepts of stories, numbers, letters, colors, and shapes, and gives her information about the world around her. Reading small board books that your infant can grasps is a great way to continue preparing her for early literacy. She may want to place the book in her mouth and chew on the corners, so prepare to replace books often.
One way to help your infant develop language at this stage of her development is to use finger plays. Songs that use simple hand motions, such as the Eensy Weensy Spider; Where is Thumbkin and Open, Shut Them are examples of fingerplays that are fun and help your infant to develop memory and language.
12-18 Months
Your infant can say hi and bye when encouraged. She can point and use single words. She will look at the person talking to her and “talk” by pointing or gesturing towards things.
Your infant loves to be read to by you and others in your family. Point out and name things in the books you read. Your infant will begin to repeat the words in her own language, and you can say the words again correctly. The more words she hears, the better she'll be able to talk.
Your infant loves to be read to by you and others in your family. Point out and name things in the books you read. Your infant will begin to repeat the words in her own language, and you can say the words again correctly. The more words she hears, the better she'll be able to talk.
18-24 Months
Now your infant can use 2-3 word sentences, says please and thank you when prompted, and tries to sing.
You can help your child develop language skills while doing a fun activity. For example, do fingerplays and sing stories to the tune of a familiar song. Songs that include movement such as, The Hokey Pokey; I'm a Little Tea Pot; or Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, require your child to listen to the songs words to guide their actions and helps them develop their working memory.
Take your older infant to the library and let her choose from age appropriate books. Books with colorful illustrations and catchy phrases are sure to please. Visit our recommended books on our Store.
You can help your child develop language skills while doing a fun activity. For example, do fingerplays and sing stories to the tune of a familiar song. Songs that include movement such as, The Hokey Pokey; I'm a Little Tea Pot; or Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, require your child to listen to the songs words to guide their actions and helps them develop their working memory.
Take your older infant to the library and let her choose from age appropriate books. Books with colorful illustrations and catchy phrases are sure to please. Visit our recommended books on our Store.
