Babies possess amazing learning abilities. But to master language, they need our help. Studies suggest we can support language development by engaging babies in conversation, and by providing them with a variety of special cues and communicative experiences.
Babies make lots of communicative noises, but coos, gurgles, and cries aren’t true speech. When do babies say their first words? Most babies can say at least one or two words by the end of their first year, but the timing may vary considerably from individual to individual.
Emotion coaching is the practice of tuning into children’s feelings, and helping kids learn to cope with negative emotions like fear, anger, and sadness.
How do newborns perceive the world? Can they see in color? Can they recognize you by scent? Learn more about the newborn senses.
Can babies sign before they can speak? Signing is stimulating and fun, but there’s little evidence that it’s easier to master than speech.
No need to point fingers, because we’ve all done it: Ignoring people around us while we focus on a technological device. When we ignore or snub folks with our smartphones, it’s called “phubbing,” and since many of us carry our smartphones everywhere, phubbing has become very common. But — no surprise! — phubbing can erode … Continue reading
Many parents use infant-directed speech, a register that is exaggerated, emotional, melodic, and higher-pitched. Are their babies better off? Does it help babies learn language at an earlier age?
Gestures aren’t just hand-waving. Learn how hand movements can help babies, school children, and even adults learn.
Talking to babies helps them learn speech. But nonverbal cues may teach something more — the ability to synchronize their thoughts and feelings with those of another person.
Baby communication operates on many channels, including sight and touch. But infant-directed speech plays a special role in language learning.
What is baby sign language? Should we teach babies to sign? There’s no clear evidence that formal training programs yield long-term benefits. But signing may help parents “tune in” to their babies, and certain gestures may make it easier for babies to learn.
Research suggests that playful, age-appropriate musical training can help babies learn language-related skills.