A comprehensive look at a few very simple and easy tricks to help your
child learn and develop their language skills.
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Check your child’s ability to hear, and pay attention to
ear problems and infections, especially when they keep occurring.
- Reinforce your baby’s communication attempts by looking at him or
her, speaking, and imitating his or her vocalizations.
- Repeat his or her laughter and facial expressions.
- Teach your baby to imitate actions, such as peekaboo, clapping, blowing
kisses, pat-a-cake, itsy bitsy spider, and waving bye-bye. These games
teach turn taking that is needed for conversation.
- Talk while you are doing things, such as dressing, bathing, and feeding
(e.g., “Mommy is washing Sam’s hair”; “Sam is
eating carrots”; “Oh, these carrots are good!”).
- Talk about where you are going, what you will do once you get there, and
who and what you’ll see (e.g., “Sam is going to Grandma’s
house. Grandma has a dog. Sam will pet the dog.”).
- Teach animal sounds (e.g., “A cow says ‘moo'”).
- Communicate with your child in the language you are most comfortable using.