What Are the Developmental Norms for Speech?
Teaching a child to communicate well doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, many language-building activities can be a regular part of your daily routine. Here are a few helpful suggestions from the book “Little Language For Little Ones” by speech-language pathologist Laura Dyer. • Limit the time your child spends sucking on (and talking around) pacifiers.* Children talk more often and more clearly when they don’t have pacifiers available. An added bonus: Pediatricians have noted that ear infections are about 33 percent more frequent among children who use a pacifier often. • Limit the amount of time your child spends watching television and videos. Studies have shown that even watching “educational” programs puts children in a passive learning state, and can inhibit their early development. Children learn more effectively from active, hands-on experiences. • Be a good speech and language model for your child. Use eye contact, gestures, and demonstrations to make yourself understood.
