0-6months – Speech-Language Developmental Milestones and Fun Activities that foster Speech-Language Growth

06/18/2014

We have another great entry by our guest author Kara Broks, a local mom and Speech-Language Pathologist

0-6months – Speech-Language Developmental Milestones and Fun Activities that foster Speech-Language Growth

American Speech-Hearing Association 2014 www.asha.org

DAILY ACTIVITIES 0-6 MONTHS

Long before your baby can communicate very much on his/her won, he/she is developing an ear for speech and language! Anytime talk to him/her you’re nurturing his/her urge for words.

1. Rhymes/Songs (here are a few):  Pat-a-Cake, Row Row Row your boat, Little Miss Muffet, Hickory Dickory Dock, Incey Wincey Spider, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, If Your’re Happy and You Know it.

2. Activities (here are a few):

• Peek A Boo
• Playing hide and seek with a toy and a blanket
• Talking to your baby about everyday activities (ex., while walking up the stairs you may say “up we go, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc or while you are bathing your baby you can sing “this is the way we wash your hands/feet, etc).
• Change Table FUN – a lot of time is spent on the change table at this stage – take advantage of it by getting close to your babies face and ears – make vowel sounds (ooo, ahh, eee) and/or use a toilet paper tube and whisper in his/hers ears “I love you,” “You are so special,” etc.
• Sharing Books – books with flaps, finger puppets, texture and simple pictures are the best! Here are a few of my favorites; First 100 words, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Finger puppet book, Moo Moo tab book, Busy Zoo, Nursery Rhyme books, Lift the flap play books, etc

A few great children’s AUTHORS for 0-6 months: Matthew Van Fleet (Heads, Tails, Sniff, Dog, etc), Eric Carle, Nancy Tillman, Karen Katz, Sandra Boynton and Julia Donaldson to name a few. Check out your nearest library, online sales or garage sales.

1. How to Foster Communication

1.  Try to use an animated voice (ex., high and low pitches) and make all different kinds of facial expressions to keep your baby interested and having fun!
2. Reinforce your baby’s communication attempts by looking at him/her, speaking and imitating his/her vocalizations.
3. Repeat his/her laughter and facial expressions
4. Teach your baby to imitate actions such as peek a boo, blowing kisses, waving bye bye, etc.
5. Hearing – Have your child’s ability to hear checked especially if they experience an ear infection or you feel they are not hearing you and/or environmental sounds as well as they should be.

Kara Broks – Registered Speech-Language Pathologist