Communication is widely misunderstood as speech. We, as humans are given five senses; touch, smell, sight, taste and hearing. All these five senses play an important role in helping us to nurture language developments in infants. An infant’s mind is not fully matured and is unable to process information in the form of words or speech. Body languages and facial expressions play a more important role during this time.
The infantile period is the time when babies are trying to get use to their environment by beginning to learn the about the world around them. Unable to communicate by speech, they depend on other ways to communicate. Thus, when a baby smiles, coos or babble are their way of communicating with us. It’s important to have eye contact with your infant as a start and mimicking them through facial expressions would help them to recognize people and things around them and eventually learn their first words through copying sounds made by people around them.
Talking to them will help them to learn names and objects around them. Always instill the habit of telling your infants what you’re doing or explaining objects like their toys or clothing around them by pointing to them. However, nurturing language development in infants is not a one sided thing to do. When you see your infant showing signs of responding, encourage them more by playing taking-turns games or show them you understand the message they are trying to tell you.
Music is one of the better ways to teach infants on the different rhythms of languages. You can also read the children books or poetries to them in lively voices! Amazingly, basic sign languages are also another great way in nurturing language for infants which enable them to have higher IQs and speak sooner!
Infants enjoy listening to people speaking and instead of letting them watch television or listen to the radio, speak to them instead to build a rapport between parent and baby. Either way, try to have your spouse beside you when you speak to your baby as this indirectly let your infant feels closer to the both of you and this also helps the infant to develop language skills better than exposure to the television and radio. It may consist of baby talk and proper words but beware of exposing infants to more than one language at the same time as they will mix them up.