Talk to Me, Baby!

How You Can Support Young Children’s Language Development

Second Edition

by Betty S. Bardige, Ed.D.

Contents

1 The Power of Play Talk 2 Baby Babbles: Birth–1½ Years 3 Off Like a Rocket: 1½–3½ Years 4 Advances in Pretend Play and Storytelling 5 From Language to Literacy: 4-6+ Years 6 Building Language-Supporting Communities

About the Author

Betty S. Bardige, Ed.D.

Dr. Bardige has dedicated her career to ensuring all children have a promising start and a lifetime of equitable learning opportunities. As a developmental psychologist, educator, and parent, she understands the unique power of early experiences. Children who have rich, responsive, playful interaction with caregivers develop emotional security and increasingly rich language. Extra support is crucial for children whose language lags behind. Dr. Bardige collaborates with initiatives to help support young children’s language, literacy, and social-emotional development. She has worked for over 30 years to strengthen systems, programs, and policies that affect young children and their families. Dr. Bardige holds a doctorate in human development from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Introduction

Baby Babbles

(Birth–1½ Years)

Baby Ana, just 2 days old, is meeting her doctor for the first time. Ana fusses as he carries her but is gradually soothed by his voice. When he lays her down to examine her, she gets her fist into her mouth and sucks steadily. The doctor makes sure her parents notice her responsiveness.

Most babies do well on the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) or its simpler relative, the Newborn Behavioral Observations system. These assessments are designed to provide a portrait of a baby’s strengths and provide opportunities for parents to recognize their baby's communication and learning skills.

If you talk to a newborn, she is likely to turn toward your voice. Most babies recognize and choose their mother’s voice by the time they are 1 week old and will typically prefer their father’s voice over a stranger’s by 2 weeks.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Maria is nursing her 4-day-old child. Each time she pauses to encourage her baby to keep eating, the baby lengthens the pause, trying to elicit more communication. Babies depend on adults for care and communication, and the bond between parent and child deepens over time. By 3 months old, most babies learn to engage in back-and-forth interaction.

As the baby interacts more, attunement occurs between the baby and caregivers, strengthening their relationship. Experiences during the early months shape the baby's brain and learning abilities.

SHARING THE CARING

Elena and Paulo moved to a new city with their first child. They found a child care program that felt cold and unwelcoming. Luckily, they found another place where they felt comfortable and recognized that the caregiver was genuinely interested in them and their baby. This positive environment was essential for their child's development.