Why is it important to talk to your baby?

As we all know the most precious gift someone can give is their time. Especially with little kids they expect nothing but your time. Considering our busy life schedule and todays social life situations where many families live away from their close relatives and friends it is almost impossible to find time for our kids.

But for the well development of a child, they constantly need to be in a communication enriched environment and they should be exposed to the real life situations where they can learn, listen, explore, copy and reciprocate.

Science found that starting from 7^th month of pregnancy, not only the child can listen to the voices around them but also respond to them. Baby identifies familiar voices especially the mother’s voice. So the connection to the environment starts even before birth. For the proper development of speech and language skills the child needs to have adequate exposure of speech from the day they are born. The way of acquiring the motor and speech milestones are different. Speech and language acquisition happens mainly through listening and imitating.  Yes, the first mode of communication happens through imitating the people around them. They start imitating the facial gestures or actions, easy sounds, funny sounds to real words. For the better development of speech the family plays a big role.

4 years of age is a crucial period for the development of the child. Brain is highly active and rapidly developing and the children are very curious to learn. It helps them to understand the world. Playing is an integral part of the child’s development. So the best ways to spend time with them means playing with them. Before you introduce screens, guide them to the world of books and different type of plays. These all will help with their speech and language development also supports their emotional and social development. 

HOW TO TALK TO A BABY?

1. Look at their face, make eye contact, call their name, and watch their response
2. Listen to their cries- baby’s early communication mode is crying, so recognizing the pattern and responding to it is very important.
3. Speak slowly with lots of facial expressions
4. Use high pitched voice and try different intonations (sing your words)
5. Describe what you are doing. Eg: if you are changing the diaper describe it.
6. Repeat the words over and over
7. Make the baby laugh a lot
8. Introduce books from a young age (starting from 2 or 3 months)
9. No screen time below 2 years and restricted screen time after that.

In the formative years of 0 to 4, every moment spent with a child is invaluable in shaping their future. This period, marked by rapid brain development and an innate curiosity, is crucial for their speech, language, social, and emotional development. As parents and caregivers, the onus falls on us to create a nurturing environment that fosters growth and learning. While technology and screens are a part of our modern lives, they cannot replace the richness of direct human interaction. Talking to a baby, engaging in playful activities, and introducing them to the world of books and storytelling are not just ways to pass the time; they are foundational activities that shape a child’s ability to communicate, connect, and understand the world around them. In this digital age, where time is a scarce commodity, we must remember that the simple act of talking to our children is one of the most profound gifts we can give — a gift that will have a lasting impact on their lives.