Talking To Your Baby Helps Improve Communication Skills

You might think it’s obvious that talking to your child from the beginning helps him learn language and communication skills, as a recent New York Times article pointed out. But with the abundance of cell phones, text messaging, computers, yada yada yada, parents are actually NOT talking to their children as much as in the past. And, the kids are paying for it.

Well, duh, right? I often think I sound like a crazy person blabbering on about the clouds in the sky, the doggie water bowls on the sidewalk and the color of each and every car passing me and my daughter as we walk down the street. In fact, I know I sound “touched” as my grandmother would say. But, hey, turns out I’m teaching my child very important life lessons along the way.

Language skills, communication skills, cognitive skills, OK, I get it. I’d also venture to say that your child is picking up non-verbal communication as well. Looking your daughter in the eye while speaking to her teaches her that you value and respect her as a person enough to take the time to talk to her. It also teaches her that you have enough time to stop and listen, to figure out what she might be trying to say to you.

So I say go ahead, say, “yes, that is a big, brown truck,” when your little one spots the UPS delivery guy and struggles to say truck. Or even if you hear “seeeees, seeeees” along with eager pointing to the side of the road, take the time to ask, “do you see trees?” You might sound like an idiot to some, but if it’s good for the baby, let that freak flag fly!

photo credit: Joe Shlabotnik