Help! My child’s not producing words yet and my friend’s child whose younger has multiple words. I’ve heard this sentence, or a variation of it dozens of times from worried parents. You’ve Google searched developmental norms, spoke with your pediatrician, tried to elicit ‘mama’ and ‘dada’ until you were blue in the face and nothing. What if I told you, maybe your baby isn’t ready to talk yet. There’s not a magic age when a child ‘pops’ out his/her first word. Just like you, children need to take baby steps before mastering a new skill. And talking is definitely a skill.
There is a variety of underlying milestones that precede first words. First, check to see if your child has mastered the following skills indicating communicative intent before expecting first words to emerge.
1. Joint Attention: One of the most fundamental skills for communication. Joint attention entails that both communication parties are sharing eye contact indicating a connection with one another. Look for this during play. Does your child attend to you (and the toy being used) indicating a shared interest?
2. Demonstrates communicative intent physically
Pointing- Congratulations, your child is purposely communicating with you. Your baby is letting you know that he/she wants something. Reaching for an object is one of the first intentional gestures performed.
Gestures- Your child uses their body to indicate a want (i.e. arms held high to indicate being picked up, waving hi/bye).
Push & Pull- Your child pushes or pulls you to an object or area of interest, or pushes an object away out of disapproval.
Intentional Movement- Clapping hands to demonstrate excitement, tugging on an adult to gain attention, or nodding head for yes/shaking head for no.
3. Demonstrates communicative intent verbally:
Vocalize to Objects-Your child makes a variety of sounds while playing with objects.
Imitates Sounds- Your child needs to imitate sounds before he/she can imitate words. Start with silly sounds such as ‘yay’ ‘wee’ ‘oooo’ and ‘ahhh’, blowing raspberries, making animal sounds, etc.
4. Social Play:
Imitating Play- Kids learn through play and learning to play initially happens through imitation. If your child is not yet imitating YOUR play actions, then imitate THEIRS.
Reciprocal Play- Children learn turn-taking through play. Make some noises while playing with toys and see if your child makes noise back.
Initiating Games- Children need to learn to initiate play before initiation conversation. Early initiation games include peek-a-boo, chasing a rolling ball, pushing toy cars/trucks, or banging on some drums.
Does your child consistently exhibit these skills in a variety of settings? If so, then they are on their way to producing their first words! Be patient and continue modeling good language. See some areas your child can improve upon? Take a step back and focus on those prerequisite skill(s), then watch your child’s first words appear! Remember, communication should be fun! Get silly with it. If you’re not enjoying yourself then neither is your child.
Talk soon, Kim
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