Insight

How I Support My Baby's Speech and Language Development

by Claire Bergman

Published on Mar 10, 2025

0 min read

Early communication is key to emotional, social, and cognitive growth

As a new mum and Speech and Language Therapist, I’m dedicated to supporting baby H’s speech and language development. Early communication is key to emotional, social, and cognitive growth. Here are some examples of what I do, but remember you are the best person for your baby and know how to help them best!:

1. Books

I read to H every day. Reading exposes him to language, even before he fully understands it. Studies show that children who are read to every day will have heard nearly 300,000 words by the time they’re 5 (Ohio State University, 2019). Our favourite books include Where’s Mr. Lion?, Dear Zoo, and the Julia Donaldson stories. These books, with repetitive phrases and large pictures, help build vocabulary.

2. Signs

I’ve introduced basic Makaton signs like “more,” “milk,” and “finished” to support communication. Using signs alongside spoken words helps babies grasp language in different forms. This strengthens their understanding of communication, which is especially helpful for expressing needs before they can verbalise them.

3. Core Language

I use simple, clear phrases during everyday activities like mealtimes, saying things like “Here’s your food” and “Do you want more?” Repetition helps H connect words to actions and objects, gradually expanding his vocabulary. I also use phrases like “Ready, steady, GO” during playtime to reinforce language patterns.

4. Language-Rich Environment

I talk about what’s happening throughout the day, whether I’m cooking, cleaning, or playing, to expose H to a variety of language and help him get familiar with its rhythms. It's a natural way to reinforce language throughout everyday activities.

5. Labelling/ naming

I label everything – toys, animals, people – so H starts associating words with their meanings. This repetition will support his language development when he's ready to speak.

6. Singing

Babies love music and rhythm, and nursery rhymes help with listening, word recognition, and memory. Singing also offers great bonding time. I take H to “Bounce and Rhyme” sessions at the library, which are fantastic for both social interaction and language development (check out your local library for free/ low-cost groups).

7. Repetition

Repetition is key to language learning. I often repeat words and phrases, whether we’re reading the same book repeatedly or using phrases like “Bye-bye” every time we leave the house. Repetition reinforces language patterns and helps H’s vocabulary grow.

8. Choices

Offering simple choices encourages communication. I might ask, “Do you want the ball or teddy?” This gives H a chance to respond, even non-verbally at first.

9. Role Play

Play is essential for language development, and I incorporate role play or small-world play into our routine, like creating a ‘dinosaur swamp’ while reading That’s Not My Dinosaur; discussing what was on the tray. We also engage in “cooking” with H’s play kitchen, where we describe the food and actions like “mix” and “in the oven.” This introduces new vocabulary and concepts through play.

10. Puppets

Puppets are a fun way to model conversation, ask questions, and encourage turn-taking. They also make stories more engaging and help H understand the flow of communication.

11. Face-to-Face Interaction

Babies are very responsive to facial expressions, I engage in face-to-face interactions with H to help him focus on my words, tone, and facial expressions, which enhances his understanding of communication.

12. Games

Simple games like peekaboo offer more than just fun; they teach important communication skills like anticipation, turn-taking, and cause and effect. Through games, H learns the give-and-take of communication, which is essential for early language development.

13. Screen Time

I try to limit H’s screen time, and ensure it’s meaningful and interactive, however we all know it plays an important role in todays society. We co-view educational/ low stimulating shows, and I comment and sing along to encourage active engagement to promote language development. I then link it into the real word, for example when watching ‘something special- aquarium’ we spoke about how we visit there and looked at pictures of ourselves at the aquarium and read ‘Tiddler’. Also, when playing/ eating etc. I am conscious about turning off the TV to limit distractions and background noise to promote healthier, more interactive experiences that support language development.

Useful websites

For even more tips and information, these websites hold a wealth of information:

Library events

Conclusion

Supporting H’s speech and language development is an ongoing process, but these activities help lay a strong foundation. By incorporating books, signs, repetition, and lots of play, I’m fostering an environment that encourages communication. While every baby develops at their own pace, these strategies help ensure that my little one has the best possible start in their journey to speaking and understanding language.

References

Ohio State University. (2019, April 4). A 'million word gap' for children who aren't read to at home. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 11, 2025 from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190404074947.htm

by Claire Bergman

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