What You Can Do to Support Your Baby's Language Development from Birth to 12 Months

My daughter just finished kindergarten two weeks ago. She would have been fine with going to school all summer long without a break because she loves school and everything about it: bus ride, recess, lessons in her main classroom, lunch, art, PE, and music class. Lets see if she still feels that way eight years from now...I hope so! When I think back about how I instilled in her a desire to learn, I think back to books. I read to her, labeled pictures, and let her "read" to me starting before her first birthday. I am doing the same things with my two year old son, and I hope that one day he loves preschool and elementary school as much as she has. The following link gives some ideas on how to develop language and literacy early on:

ZERO TO THREE: What You Can to Support Your Baby's Language Development from Birth to 12 Months

I think that many of the families of the infants and toddlers I work with do a great job of some of the suggestions listed in this link. The ones who do not often do not have books or educational toys maybe because of not having enough money or not understanding their importance. For the ones who can't afford books, I suggest going to the library (free) or dollar store (low cost). And for the families who think the child is too young to start looking at books, I provide handouts such as a copy of the link above or I show them the simple books I have. When I bring my books, I show the parents the response and interest the child has...that usually changes their minds and they realize the child is never too young! Sometimes the musical books in which you touch a button and a song or noise occurs gain the infant's attention. Other good choices of books include the ones with tactile pages such as fur or fuzz over the picture of an animal. Experiment with what gains your baby's or toddler's attention. Eventually, you will want to progress to small simple picture books with no noise or item to feel. You don't even have to read the book word for word, you can begin by pointing to pictures and encouraging the child to turn the page in order to be an active participant.

Sometimes books aren't offered to the children that I work with because of their special needs. But I have learned to make many accommodations for different disabilities. For example, for a child who has limited finger movement, foam pads can be placed between each thick cardboard page to make it easier to turn the pages. For children with limited head/neck/trunk movements, find a location to place the book that is easiest for the child to view it such as propping it on an easel in front of the child. For some children, maybe they will not be able to point to a picture, talk about the book, or turn the page, but they can at least listen to the adult read. If you think they can't understand you, still try. Maybe if the child is cuddling with the parent while being read to then at least attachment/bonding are occurring!

Books for Toddlers

My 18 month old son has a few of his favorite books. One of them in particular is a Baby Einstein (R) book that has an animal on each page, with a fabric or texture that goes with the animal- fur for the dog, faux leather for the turtle, and rough velcro for the hedgehog. Funny enough, he doesn't prefer any of the many toddler books his sister liked...too girly I guess! I saved them just in case, oh well! Her very favorite book was Goodnight Moon, and in fact I had to buy 2 extra books because she looked at them so many times, the first 2 fell apart. Until she pointed it out to me at the ripe old age of 2 years, I never noticed that on each page the tiny mouse is in a different place. Funny how girls are so good with details!


Toddlers are tough on thin paper books, so I'm glad for cardboard, thick pages. But there are some things to think about in particuar. First of all, you want a variety of books. Some are good for visual skills whereas others are better to promote language skills or touch processing. Below is a few different types of books for toddlers:

1. Song books: these books may either have a verse per page or a song per page. One of my favorites is the Wheels on the Bus book with a different verse on each page- the pictures are cute. Some books may even have a CD that comes with them.

2. Textured books- the different feels on each page tend to capture young children's attention. These books are often thick since the textures add bulk to it.

3. Foam puzzle books- these books may have it where each page has an animal or shape insert that can be taken out and placed back in.

4. Simple vs. detailed designs: very young toddlers can focus on pages better that only have one picture and not many details in the background. Very commonly in these types of books are animals or shapes. These types of books are also good for children with visual processing delays. More detailed pictures are better for older toddlers and preschoolers.

5. Books with noises or songs- may have a button to push to activate the song or noise. Although these are often a favorite of the kids, it can be annoying to the adults after awhile! I've been known to hide these books after awhile!

6. Pop-up books- when you turn the page, an insert pops up. We have an Elmo (R) book that does this, but it tore within the first week of owning it...that is the problem with these books- toddlers tend to tear up the pop-up insert.

7. Hidden windows or tabs to pull open- once again, these tear easily for the young toddlers, but the older toddlers and preschoolers may have the fine-motor control to use the books without accidentally tearing them. My daughter's favorite hidden window book was a Christmas Little People (R) book, that had animals, elves, and gifts behind the various lift up window. For example, when you lift up the paper ornament on the tree, a gift was underneath. Her favorite tab pull book was one that moved animals within water or on land as if they were swimming or running as the tab was being pulled.

8. Fabric books- these books are usually just a few pages long and are made of various materials such as jeans.

9. Manipulative books- each page may have something to manipulate such as a belt fastener, a button, etc.

Well, I'm off to go read to my two children!