Introduction & Background
Research: human brains begin development very early
Early months and years of life are critical and can be predictive of eventual lifetime achievement.
Sheehan (Stanford Child Neurology); child’s brain is:
- 25% of adult weight at birth
- 75% of adult weight at 2 1/2 years
- 90% of adult weight at 6 years
Research of Fowler & colleagues: 2 groups of babies (A/B)
Longitudinal study into late teens
A. Lang. stimulation at 4 months= achieved more than group B in every area-cognitive and linguistic skills.
B. Lang. stimulation at 12 months=
Justice, L. & Redle (2014) Communication sciences and disorders: a clinical evidence-based approach (3rd ed.)
Study concluded that: the more Responsive caregivers are…the earlier babies will say their first worlds and put 2 words together.
Turnbull & Justice 2012 summarize research of key indicators of caregiver responsiveness:
- Wait & listen
- Follow babies lead
- Join in and play
- Be face to face
- Use a variety of questions and labels
- Expand and extend
Research of Tamis-Lemonda and colleagues:
-Caregiver RESPONSIVENESS is key; responsiveness addresses child’s current control focus of interest and provides meaningful input.
One study showed that:
- Children of HIGHLY responsive mothers achieved 50-word milestones at 15 months old
- Children of LESS responsive mothers achieved at 21 months old
The most powerful mechanism for moving a baby from babbling to fluent speech was……
- how a parent responded to children’s vocalizations in the moment.
- how often a mother initiated a conversation with children not predictive of language outcomes
- *Most significant factor: if mother responded when child initiated.
YouTube Video: Still face experiment
Shows how important caregiver responsiveness is!
General Language Stimulation Ideas
- Start talking to baby at birth**
- face to face contact is ideal
- Begin reading to baby very early!
- Use simple books w/ colorful pics
- Label common objects and actions for the baby (“Look-BEAR. The BEAR is eating.”)
- Introduce Music
- Sing to baby
- Play music
- The baby can play!
- Ask Questions
- Pause between questions, increases turn-taking skills
- Introduce 2 languages from birth!!
- Introduce the baby to rattles-different noises
- Play turn-taking games (peek-a-boo, patty cake)
General Language Stimulation Ideas continued…
- Remember that most newborns benefit from black and white pics and crib mobiles.
- Put a safe-glass mirror**in the baby’s crib, point out and label her body parts.
- Imitate sounds the baby makes and make new sounds too!
- Use greetings and expressions
“Hi Jennifer!”
“Bye bye Brandon!” - When cleaning the house or running errands…
Bring the baby along, describe what you are doing & introduce baby to new people. - Provide many opportunities:
-To put simple objects in and out of containers; helps with fine motor skills, object permanence and cognitive skills. - Make sure to provide a Variety of Safe, Fun, Interesting Toys.
General Language Stimulation Ideas continued…
- Let the baby be in Nature
- LABEL:
-What the baby is paying attention to; TALK about it.
“There is the beach!” “Here is your ball!” - Use the same words…
-In daily activities and routines; during dressing label body parts & clothing items
“Here are your SHOES!” “We will put your SHOES on” - Start a Scrapbook***
-Soft cotton cloth book, cut fav animals, objects; glue in book.
-Go through scrapbook w/ the baby, have him/her feel the pics as you name them.
- Let baby touch other pics & objects
LABELING PLAY: The research of William Fowler:
Labeling Play: naming common objects that babies encounter in their daily experiences.
How? Example: The KEYS
-Engage the baby’s attention to an object, action or event
-LABEL in the MOMENT!
-Start with words in short sentences, Emphasizing KEY word.
Ex: “Keys, lots of Keys…I’m going to put the Keys in the ignition.”
Advantages of Word Labeling over Ordinary Speech:
ORDINARY SPEECH: proceeds in the background, unrelated to baby’s attention or interest
WORD LABELING**: engages baby’s attention directly.
**WORD Labeling:
- Simple, decreases complexity of language baby hears
- Concrete; words relate to things they apply to
- Isolates & Stresses KEY WORDS-easier for baby to understand
ORDINARY Labeling:
- Complex, difficult words & sentences
- Abstract, not related clearly to what is being talked about
- Words embedded in ongoing speech
