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Did you know that the average child will learn about ? And this number will continually grow as their vocabulary increases year after year. This might sound like an accomplishment that only a spelling bee champion could achieve, but the reality is that kids absorb tons of language from their environment on a daily basis. Whether they鈥檙e listening to their favorite song, watching YouTube or TikTok, or chatting with their friends at school, your child鈥檚 vocabulary is constantly growing based on what they read, see, hear, and say.

Although language development often occurs naturally, you can also support your child in strategic ways to help boost their communication skills from infancy through their teen years.

The multifaceted nature of language development

While language development is most commonly associated with words, there are many layers to the process in which children develop language skills. In fact, language development begins way before your child鈥檚 first words are ever spoken. This is because receptive language skills involve the ability to understand and comprehend what we hear. As babies listen to their caregivers鈥� words (e.g. 鈥淒o you want a ba-ba?鈥�) and other sounds around them, they begin to shape their understanding of how words and sounds work together. Babies also start to realize that words have meaning, but before babies can use these words to express themselves, they鈥檒l rely on nonverbal forms of communication to meet their needs and wants. This may include:

• Smiling at the sound of a familiar voice.
• Showing fear or concern when they hear loud noises.
• Making cooing sounds to express joy.
• Crying in different ways to express different needs (e.g., hungry cry versus tired cry).
• Mimicking actions, such as clapping during songs.

As babies begin to communicate with more defined sounds, like 鈥渂a鈥� and 鈥減a,鈥� they鈥檒l gradually demonstrate other skills, such as labeling objects with words and directly addressing caregivers by name. These skills will develop over the years from simple words (e.g. mama, no, bye-bye, etc.) to basic sentences (e.g. 鈥淚 want milk鈥� and 鈥淲here鈥檚 Daddy?鈥�). That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 important for parents and caregivers to create a language-rich environment throughout a child鈥檚 journey from cooing to conversations.

Real-life examples of language development

A recent showed that babies who are able to match an adult鈥檚 face to their voice by the age of 6 months tend to have a wider range of vocabulary words and verbal communication abilities between 18 and 24 months. The study followed more than 100 3-month-old babies until they turned 3 years old. Researchers specifically tracked the children鈥檚 language development and the correlation to their ability to process sights and sounds, also known as intersensory processing skills. In the initial testing phase, infants were shown videos of six different women speaking while only one woman could be heard audibly speaking. Babies who were able to focus on the video that matched the voice dialogue were later linked to higher language development skills.

So, what does this mean for parents who want to boost their child鈥檚 language development? First and foremost, this data emphasizes the importance of talking to your child at an early age. Remember that language development begins with receptive language at birth, so it鈥檚 OK to spark conversations with your little one even if they can鈥檛 respond verbally. Also, since infants can make connections with environmental sounds, such as common household noises and even music, it鈥檚 important to give them plenty of opportunities to explore language in the world around them. And because sights and sounds work together when it comes to early language development, you can use strategies, such as books, toys, pictures, songs, and sight words, to help build your child鈥檚 vocabulary and support their receptive (what they hear) and expressive (what they say) language growth throughout the early years. This preparation can give your child the head start they need to succeed in school.

Fostering a love for reading (and writing)

Early language development skills, such as listening, speaking, and identifying sounds, can build a strong foundation for your child鈥檚 literacy later in life. This is because reading skills require the ability to make connections between printed letters and words and the sounds they make. For babies, story time carries benefits, such as the increased ability to focus, vocabulary development, and an overall interest in books.

As they grow older, listening to stories can help your child comprehend and think critically about what they鈥檝e heard.

When your child is ready to learn how to read independently, they can rely on what they know about language to master skills such as decoding.

When you promote healthy language development skills at home, you鈥檒l not only foster an early love for reading but you will also give your child the tools they need to learn literacy strategies and overcome possible struggles in this essential learning area.

Since reading and writing skills are linked, writing skills also emerge from your child鈥檚 language development and growth. In addition to skills, such as and , your child will also need to develop letter-sound knowledge and listening skills as they learn to become fluent writers. A language-rich home environment can be very influential in this area, as your child can recall words from memory to practice sounding them out as they write. A stack of flashcards and getting in the habit of using a dictionary can come in handy for checking spelling errors and meanings, too. These strategies and resources, in addition to your ongoing support, can make a world of difference as your child鈥檚 language development skills blossom.

A few more ways to support your child鈥檚 reading and writing skills through language development

• Start buying or borrowing age-appropriate books from the library at an early age to pique curiosity and help your child learn the . Print awareness can help your child make connections between written and spoken words, an important skill for both reading and verbal communication.
• Emphasize letter sounds when you talk to your child to promote phonemic awareness (e.g. 鈥淏 is for b-b-b ball.鈥�). When kids have a strong understanding of how letters and sounds work together in words, they can feel more confident as beginning readers and writers.
• Encourage activities such as telling and writing stories at home. Young kids can draw a picture and dictate a sentence (or two, or even a whole story) about the picture for an adult to write down. As your child gains the ability to write their own story, even if your child still demonstrates invented spelling skills, encourage them to share their thoughts and not worry about errors. Ask your child to draw illustrations to help express their creative story ideas as well. For older children, you can explore story elements such as characters, plot, and setting, too. Writing for fun can inspire kids to develop language skills and express themselves in creative, exciting ways.

How to encourage effective communication

Aside from the ability to learn, read, and write, healthy language development also helps children become effective communicators. This means the ability to listen carefully and understand what the speaker is saying and what they mean. It also means the ability to speak with confidence, fluency, and genuine expression.

These skills can help them positively engage with teachers and peers at school. Later in life, strong communication skills can help your child pursue endeavors, such as public speaking and performance arts and can also prepare them for various career paths. Plus, when you encourage kids to verbally express their feelings, this is beneficial for their social-emotional learning and development, too.

You can help your child communicate effectively first and foremost by modeling what healthy communication looks like. Stop and listen when your child is talking. Make eye contact and show that you are listening by nodding your head. Use facial expression to show your reactions to what your child is saying. And ask questions. Show concern and empathy, surprise and disagreement, and other reactions as appropriate. As you talk to your child, make eye contact, use facial expressions and gestures to reinforce what you鈥檙e saying, and make the exchange a back-and-forth exchange as much as possible rather than a lecture or monologue. Talk to your child regularly and prompt them to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Questions that prompt more specific answers, expression, and back-and-forth exchanges

• What was something funny that made you laugh today?
• What was the best thing you smelled today?
• How did that make you feel?
• Why do you think this happened?
• What could you do to solve this problem?

Invite your child to have open conversations about their interests and topics of choice as well. This creates a safe space for them to talk about their personal struggles and also demonstrates the importance of communicating with trusted adults.

In the tween and teens years, you can be an important source of support as your child deals with issues such as peer pressure and bullying, and it will certainly help if you get in the habit of talking and sharing openly in the younger years.

Conclusion

Language development begins during the early stages of life and continues for many years as children navigate the world and explore the sights and sounds around them. Parents can enhance their child鈥檚 language development with effective support strategies. Aside from educational resources, such as books, worksheets, toys, and flashcards, one of the best ways to build your child鈥檚 language skills is to engage in frequent conversations with them. This can help them understand how people communicate through words, increase their receptive and expressive language development skills, and build their vocabulary. As your child grows older, this linguistic foundation will help with critical reading, writing, and communication skills.

It鈥檚 important to note that these expectations are based on typical language development milestones for children. If you suspect that your child may be experiencing a , reach out to your pediatrician for additional information and support. Early interventions tend to make a world of difference when a child is experiencing a delay.