How to support language development in babies

© 2022 – 2024 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved

Babies possess incredible learning abilities. However, to excel in language development, they require our assistance. Research indicates that we can promote language development in babies by engaging them in conversations and providing them with various cues and communicative experiences.

Wondering where to start? Here are some evidence-based tips to guide you.

Tip #1: Embrace “infant-directed speech”

Many individuals alter their speech patterns when speaking to a baby. They may use a higher pitch, vary their tone, speak more slowly, and repeat key words. This “infant-directed speech” is not mere silliness, as research shows that it helps babies understand emotional states and decipher words.

Learn more about this in my article on “Baby communication: Why your baby prefers infant-directed speech” and “Baby talk 101: How infant-directed speech helps babies learn language.”

Tip #2: Respond appropriately to your baby’s moods and signals

Caregiver sensitivity, where parents acknowledge and respond to their baby’s cues, is crucial for communication and attachment security. Studies have shown that greater maternal sensitivity leads to advanced language development in infants.

Tip #3: Talk back to babies when they vocalize or babble

Encourage babies’ babbling by imitating their syllables and responding to their vocalizations. When babies direct vocalizations at objects, engage in conversation about those objects to help them learn.

Tip #4: Support language development with one-on-one conversation

Direct participation in one-on-one conversation enhances language skills in children. Engaging babies in high-quality conversations can lead to better language outcomes.

Tip #5: Make conversations effective and rewarding

Use the PRIDE approach – Praise, Reflect, Imitate, Describe, and show Enthusiasm – to engage babies in conversation. This approach fosters emotional closeness, making communication more rewarding and helping babies understand the value of language.

Tip #6: Leverage the power of curiosity

Respond promptly when your baby shows interest in something, as this curiosity enhances learning. Pay attention to cues like pointing, which indicates your baby’s desire to learn about specific objects.

Tip #7: Seize the moment when your baby is looking at and touching an object

When babies are fully engaged by looking at and touching objects, they are more receptive to learning the object’s name. This combination of attention helps them retain information better.

Tip #8: Use gestures to enhance communication

Incorporate gestures into speech to improve language learning. Encouraging babies to use gestures also contributes to better language outcomes.

Tip #9: Engage your baby in playful music activities

Expose babies to music to enhance language development, as music and language processing share similarities in the brain. Musical activities can lead to more advanced language skills in children.

Tip #10: Read to your baby

Shared storybook reading promotes child language development by exposing them to a richer vocabulary. Reading books with your baby can make reading fun and engaging, leading to improved language skills.

Tip #11: Respect the power of sleep

Expose babies to language in the last 30-60 minutes before sleep to enhance retention of information. Reading bedtime stories and engaging in pre-sleep conversations can be beneficial for language learning.

More about your baby’s language development

For additional evidence-based information on baby language development, refer to these Parenting Science articles:

If you’re interested in other aspects of your baby’s development, explore these resources:

References: How to support language development in babies

References for the content provided in this article.

Image credits: monkeybusinessimages / iStock, Drazen Zigic / iStock, ampyang / iStock