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As a new mother, my most common question is “Is my baby developing normally and how does she compare to other babies her age? What can I do to stimulate her development?” As her physical development is above average (rolling at 14 weeks, up on hands and knees at 5 months,) her verbal development is at question. At the age of 6 months, the only sounds I have heard are “ah” “ooo”, the occasional squeal and the recent “ya ya ya”. There have been a few small giggles, but nothing I would classify as a laugh. Both my husband and I were questioning her verbal development, so I decided to do some research. While it is important to keep in mind that all babies develop certain skills and abilities at different times, it is also important to look at comparisons of other babies their age. At six months, most babies are experimenting with pitch and volume of sounds, determining what sounds produce reactions from others. Many babies begin to draw out or combine their sounds, producing long streams of babbling and cooing, as well as repeating sounds continuously. I decided to look into what I can do to improve her verbal development. Studies suggest that daily story-time or nursery rhymes can encourage verbal skills to develop faster. Mimicking your baby can also encourage them to try out new sounds, as well as be an enjoyable game for both parent and child. Also, using one syllable sounds that you have not yet heard can persuade baby to mimic the parent. A simple suggestion is to generally talk more, providing a narration for baby of daily events. For example “Mommy is emptying the dishwasher. Here are the plates; Mommy puts them in the cupboard.” Also, the variety of educational toys for babies and toddlers contiuously expands. Although I still have concerns regarding her development, I am encouraged by the methods I can do daily that will improve her verbal skills. Of course in extreme cases, (no verbal communication at 6 months), experts suggest discussing baby’s development with your doctor. Furthermore, as baby grows and hits a variety of milestones, it is important to research what parents can do to improve development at all ages. Once baby reaches toddler stage, many parents struggle with creating ways to entertain their child in an educational way. There are many resources available to parents to stimulate creativity and suggest new methods of encouraging development. The importance of the awareness of your child’s milestones grows through every stage they experience. For more great ideas on how to stimulate your baby or toddler, please visit http://moms-probs-odds-and-jobs.blogspot.com/
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verbal development, childhood development, babies, verbal skills, parenting,
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