Observing your Child's Communication

Before your baby ever uses her first word, forms of communication are developing that are linked to later language abilities. It is important to understand what these “pre-language” or pre-linguistic skills are and to encourage their development. No matter what communication approach you are using with your baby, all children benefit from pre-linguistic development. You can encourage pre-linguistic skills by observing and responding to your baby’s subtle communication attempts and turns.

Observe:

1. What my baby responds to and expresses with his body
2. What my baby responds to and expresses with his voice
3. What my baby’s intentions are and how he is trying to communicate them to others

Examples of pre-linguistic forms of communication are eye gaze, whole body movements and tension, repetitive body movements, facial expressions, using hands for pointing, waving, grabbing, holding, giving, and touching to communicate, crying, vocalizing, and babbling. These forms of communication may happen spontaneously or in response to something either seen, heard, or both.