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How to Develop a Baby's Speech: Tips for Caring Moms and Dads
24.02.2024 07:50
The vocabulary of a 1-1.5 year old child, as a rule, consists of 5-20 words.
If your little one is not meeting these standards, don't panic. Instead, here's what you can do to encourage their speech development.
Don't use "baby language"
For example, if you say "car", then for a child it should be "car", not "beep". It will be more difficult for the baby to associate an object with a certain word, and later he will have to switch from "children's" language to "adult" language. But always call objects by the same, simple words, for example, "car", not "automobile".
TV, tablet and computer will not teach you to speak
Therefore, developmental speech programs and cartoons only make sense when parents comment on them for the child. Otherwise, the tablet can become an enemy of speech, since you don’t need to talk to it, just press a button or swipe the screen.
Engage in physical activity with your child
Develop his gross and fine motor skills, do exercises, finger exercises and massage. This will help stimulate the child's nerve endings and develop his brain.
Do articulation exercises
Sometimes a child may have problems with speech due to an underdeveloped speech apparatus (lips, tongue, facial muscles). In such cases, it is useful to do articulation exercises, which will help develop the speech apparatus.
Practice reading together
Another useful "exercise" is reading with your baby. If you do this every day, you will help your little one learn to finish the last words of poems.
What else can be done?
It is important to speak to the child clearly and slowly, to name and show the objects that surround him. It is also useful to invite older children who can already speak to visit.
Monitor your child's diet to ensure that he or she is getting enough foods containing iodine, iron, and the "smart lipids" Omega-3 and Omega-6.
Don't rush to do what your child asks if he can point to the desired object. Instead, let him try to tell you what he wants.
Earlier we talked about how to teach a child to do household chores.
