“Hi there, baby,” I whispered. “Gonna change your diaper. What a mess you made!” Having been a high school teacher, I was used to kids who communicated with words and felt slightly ridiculous talking to an infant. But someone said I should do it. So, I tried to talk as much as I could to develop my baby’s brain in the first year. But sometimes, it took too much energy, and I couldn’t for the life of me muster up a one-way conversation.
Maybe you’ve heard that talking to your baby’s good too. Like me, do you sometimes struggle to keep the words flowing? Well, now there’s more incentive to keep at it. New research from the University of Texas at Dallas “revealed compelling evidence that caregiver speech significantly enhances infants’ brain development and long-term language abilities.” Significantly! You can do a lot to develop your baby’s brain in the first year. Here are 5 ways to get more words in during the day to boost your baby’s brain and language skills.
1. When she babbles, talk back.
“Ah-booo,” my son said, now sporting a clean diaper on the changing table. He clutched his toes, drawing them to his lips. “Ah-bbbb-boooo.” I gazed into his eyes and repeated his words adding, “You’re so right. I love playing with my toes too. Sometimes I paint them with nail polish, but are you putting your toes in your mouth? Yes, that’s your mouth! Is your big toe tasty, sweetheart? Is it?”
Assistant professor of psychology Meghan Swanson and her team of researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have confirmed that “children who hear more words go on to have better language skills.” So, it’s important for us to use this time in our babies’ lives when they’re most receptive to learning new things to talk to them as much as we can.
2. Narrate what you see.
“We’re on an elevator! Oh look, the doors are opening!” I said as my baby stared up at me from his stroller. The more I talked to my baby, the easier it got. And with narration, I practically had a playbook. I’m sure I pointed out the same things day after day, but that’s actually a good thing for our babies. They hear the same words and start to recognize their meaning.
Dr. Swanson says that “[p]arents have the power to help their children develop.” The more you talk and interact with your baby, the more words she’ll absorb. And pouring words into her now is a great way to positively affect her development. You really do have the power to set your baby up for success and impact her future!
3. Read and re-read.
Before my baby could sit up or even roll over, I’d put him on a blanket and lie next to him with Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I’d read it over and over to him as we waited for Daddy to come home from work. By that time of day, I was so tired that reading the same book was the easiest thing to do. I only realized later that it had benefits for my child too.
If you want to know how to develop your baby’s brain in the first year, the Department of Education says “babies and toddlers learn more when the same story is repeated to them multiple times.” Use the words on the page, but also point out different pictures or objects. Board books are typically safe for babies to grasp and explore with their mouths. But picture books could be more exciting for you. Either way, as Highlights Editorial says, reading to your child will “help build listening and visual skills that form the basis for independent reading later on.’
4. Sing.
My friend Kelly sang to both her daughters when they were little. “I had a hard time sitting still for too long with books—but I did that too,” she assured me. I remember making up songs when my kids were little. But I also relied on ones I knew. It doesn’t matter if you’re singing Taylor Swift tunes or Aretha Franklin songs—just sing what you love.
With babies’ development, the more you sing, talk, and interact, the more they’ll benefit. So, turn on the Sonos and sing what makes you and your baby happy.
5. Talk to others.
I met up with my friend Alison for coffee, and after getting our drinks, we parked our strollers and sat on a bench. When our boys started to fuss, we pulled them onto our laps. Every so often, Alison would say, “Look! A cement mixer!” or “Here comes another baby in a stroller!” And our boys’ eyes would turn to where she pointed.
They were part of our conversation! When we’re chatting with friends, our babies are still listening to us. They’re soaking up words and noticing what’s around them. Even if you’re on the phone with your baby strapped inside a Moby Wrap, he’s still listening to your voice. The more he hears, the more he and his growing language skills will benefit. So, keep talking!
Have you had success with other ways to develop your baby’s brain in the first year?
