| Baby language development is critical in the early | | | | for left handers. |
| phase of a baby's life. | | | | The right side of the brain is more responsible for |
| Although language development is attainable later | | | | musical quality (which is also important for |
| in life and in childhood, early stimulation is essential | | | | developing verbal communication). |
| for future language and vocabulary success. | | | | Research has shown that girls tend to talk a few |
| All babies are born with a brain ready to learn | | | | months earlier than boys as girls tend to divide |
| communication of some form. If language is not | | | | language functions more equally between left and |
| introduced at birth, the brain does not naturally | | | | right sides of the brain, hence linking up baby |
| pick up or learn what it has to do to | | | | speech development a little sooner. |
| communicate. | | | | Language exposure to babies is best during the |
| Babies need to be exposed to language in the | | | | relatively critical time in their early life. The reason |
| critical period of life or else their brain cannot | | | | for this is simply because of the plasticity of the |
| connect correctly. | | | | young nervous system. Brains learn to re sculpt |
| Here are some suggestions for what parents can | | | | according to their learning experiences more so |
| do to promote and enrich this essential skill: | | | | early, than later in life. |
| - Talk to baby early and regularly in tones that | | | | If parents wish to be very particular about |
| are simple, clear and positive.; | | | | language development when their baby is born, it |
| - Point out and name objects, people and feelings, | | | | is known that newborns can actually perceive |
| especially when related to your baby's own | | | | speech better with their right ear (a left brain |
| attempts to speak or express emotion; | | | | function) and distinguish musical tones better with |
| - With young babies, they are attracted to the | | | | their left ear (a right brain function). |
| 'Motherese' tone of speaking, which is a higher | | | | You may wish to talk to them more on their right |
| pitched, highly intonated style of speaking. It is | | | | side and play soft music on their left side. |
| slower paced and helps baby's learn phonemic | | | | Baby language development is one of the most |
| awareness. So use expression and vary your | | | | important forms of stimulation a baby receives. |
| pitch when talking to enhance baby speech; | | | | When babies hear language, it activates their |
| - Avoid too much muddled baby talk where | | | | hearing, social, emotional and linguistic areas of the |
| caregivers talk in a cutesy fashion. Older babies | | | | brain all at the one time. |
| can understand more than they can say, so it's | | | | Babies are very capable of categorizing speech |
| best to teach them to speak well; | | | | phonemes and can detect far more speech |
| - Don't limit your words or vocabulary to simple | | | | sounds than what we think. As babies begin to |
| and short words for babies and infants. They | | | | babble (as early as two months old) they are |
| need to hear all words to learn them. Speak within | | | | already striving to pronounce sounds they have |
| your baby's reach of understanding, but also | | | | encountered. |
| stretch her a little beyond her level of | | | | It is clear that genes can considerably shape a |
| understanding; | | | | baby's ability to develop their language skills, |
| - Use lots of repetition as babies love the | | | | however the linguistic brain is more so shaped by |
| predictability from nursery rhymes, familiar stories | | | | a child's experience with language. |
| and songs. Repeating the same phrases over | | | | For more examples on how parents and |
| again help them connect sound and meaning. | | | | caregivers can provide early language enrichment, |
| It has been found that the left side of the brain is | | | | visit Baby Speech and Activities for Teaching |
| dominant in most people for the location of | | | | Vocabulary. |
| language development. This is particularly the case | | | | |