The language explosion is a period of child development during which vocabulary and grammar combine into a veritable mind-blowing experience that transforms your baby into a child, seemingly overnight.
Until then, a toddler …show more content…
It helps babies as young as 4 months signal "more", "milk" and "hurt"--what could be better than to know what your little one needs? So what if you didn't start signing right away? It's not too late. Start with just a few basic signs with your little one. Reinforcing them throughout the day, introducing new ones a few at a time, and using them yourself will help facilitate their adoption. Imagine if your child could ask for a snack or drink rather than throwing themselves on the floor for it? Or perhaps they've got something upsetting they can't express, but a little nurturing would suffice? Sometimes being understood is enough.
Modeling Language
Talking to yourself is underrated--especially when you've got kiddos! By simply talking to your child about what you're doing, whether it involves them directly or not, you're modeling for them that language helps us make decisions and think things through. Language is a relationship builder, too. Share with your child, "We're going to get dressed now!" and follow through. Increasing the predictability of a child's day can decrease anxieties and calm a child.
First, …show more content…
Children internalize what we say, as well as our example. By using time order words such as "First we'll take a bath and then we'll have a snack" we can appeal to our child's mastered concepts of first and then, and can quell many demands. Imagine your child wants to go to the playground, and he's lost his mind and wants nothing else. Imagine he's flung himself on the floor and won't put on his jacket or shoes. Then you say, "First we put on our shoes, then we go the playground." This is a powerful tool.
Language Cards
A child who has a need for language not mastered yet may also benefit from augmentation using cards! Simple cards that a child can choose and hand you to indicate a choice of food, activity or other variable completes the cycle of communication.
I want, I like
When you're caring for your child you'll notice many opportunities to use the above methods of integrating language into your conversations with him. You can also lend him your language. For example, while you're feeding him his morning cereal you can say, "I like cereal, mama! I want more, please!" Then, when he's starting to get upset, you can easily say, "I want to go to the playground mama!" Knowing that you are receiving the message he's sending will go a long way to helping him calm down and go with the flow of putting on his shoes!
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