One thing that
I've come to realize as
a father of an active
child is to always
expect the unexpected.
For instance, I've
always assumed that
children soak up their
surroundings and learn
extremely quickly. What
I didn't expect is that
every time my 10 month
old greets people now
that she's learned from
us to wave and say "hi".
I've read about it in
development books and on
forums but actually
witnessing my little
girl become such a
socialite is blowing me
a way. Since then me and
the wife are constantly
working with her on her
speech development and
to help her progress to
a gabby baby.
If your little one is
quiet or you'd like to
help speed along your
baby's speech
development here are
some tips that I would
give:
- Talk to your baby
all the time. Talk in
adult words as well.
Even if it is simply
walking down the hall to
her room for a diaper
change ask her how her
day has been. You may
feel a little akward but
it goes miles for
helping your baby
develop its speech
pattern.
- Encourage your
babies speech. If your
baby is learning the
word "Dada" then make a
game of it. Hide behind
something and say
"Where's dada" and poke
your head out. Also, if
your baby is asking for
her bah ask her if she
wants her bottle. Try
and discourage you and
family members from
using infant words for
real objects. Don't ask
if she wants her "bah"
unless you want her
using that for the next
year.
- Expose your baby to
new words and gestures.
If she points to
something tell her what
it is. I probably spend
30 minutes collectively
throughout the day
showing my baby pictures
of mommy, daddy, the
doggy, the baby, etc. We
walk down the hall where
the pictures are hung
and she'll point to a
picture and I'll say
"Who is that pretty
baby?".
- Expand your babies
vocabulary. Lasty. Read,
read, read, and read
some more to your baby.
Even if it is the same
story back to back. It
may bore you to tears
but you are building new
neural pathways for your
baby with each pass
through of the book.
Besides, your baby
generally will tell you
when she's bored with
that book and wants a
new one.
Hopefully this helps
to get you started or
reinforces what you've
already known. Your baby
is a mirror image of
what you do. If you are
constantly quiet and
watching TV or on the
computer then your baby
will be a recluse and
quiet as well.
