Speech delays are a primary parental and pediatrician concern in small children. Different types of speech delays range from improper pronunciation of words to lack of understanding and lack of speech. Ruling out causes such as hearing, neurology, autism, and other disabilities may be necessary, but some of these causes may be harder to pinpoint before two years of age. If your child is smiling, laughing, calling out to you, or making eye contact, the latter two reasons are likely not the culprit. Audiology reports, ear exams ruling out earwax, and other exams can rule out a child’s inability to hear, but preventing a speech delay or strengthening speech is another task altogether. Here are tips to preventing speech delays in small infants.
Preventing Speech Delays in Small Infants: Reading
Reading from birth seems pointless, but this constant use of vocabulary paired with pictures, words, and personal connections increases the likelihood that your child will make early connections between words, behavior, and speech. Your child instinctively knows to cry when hungry or uncomfortable or connect with caretakers for security, and reading models a behavior that children instinctively pick up. Lots of behaviors from the mother early on are the most influential. However, as children build relationships with other caretakers or family members, they also take cues from these individuals. Reading helps children associate communication with words and the pictures they see on the page.
Beginning early allows them to learn the words and then begin to correlate different letter combinations with sounds.
Constant Communication
Your tiny infant is a person who is looking for information around them. Facial cues are critical, but including verbal conversation as a parent is key to your child normalizing communication. In primitive moments of your child’s life, they learn that a cry will connect them with a caregiver. Unfortunately, some children are neglected and cannot rely on communication from caregivers. If an infant under 18 months is crying, they are not spoiled. They either need food, sleep, reassurance, physical contact, or are uncomfortable. We cannot stress the importance of communicating with your baby regularly.
Singing and Music
Singing and music are great ways to teach your child how to speak. The sound of the music helps them remember and think about words in patterns. Favorite songs such as “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” and “The Alphabet Song” are a few examples of great songs that children will remember.
Nursery Rhymes
Nursery Rhymes (like the name suggests) are perfect for nursery tots. Remembering rhymes helps children remember words as they grow. The rhyming words, beats, and pictures (as children learn what different things are) help small children learn to speak. These images in their minds will help them associate different words with various concepts and build up their vocabulary.
Playing with Your Child
Playing with your child is a great way to help them understand their vocabulary. As you play with your child, you help them piece together language and give it meaning in daily conversation. The imaginative and creative side of their brain receives stimulation during playtime, and children will be more likely to want to speak.
Sending Your Child to Daycare
When you send your child to daycare, you help them learn how to communicate through socialization, education, music, voicing needs to caregivers, and following instructions. Your child’s growth and development are ultimately up to you, but you must find a daycare you can trust that puts your child’s needs ahead of business matters. Triangle Learning Center strives to be that daycare that you can trust. With an experienced director dedicated to childcare and a church that puts children first, we have your interests at heart. Give us a call to check availability, or drop by our center.