Language consists of communication, and expressing and receiving information. According to BabyCenter website, an understanding of language begins in the uterus when your child listens to your voice and the voices of others nearby. It is important to understand the stages of language development of your adolescent, from infancy to older years, so that you can focus on ways to help encourage his development.
Birth to 12 Months
Babycenter states that crying is the first form of communication for a baby. This is important for a foundation of language development, because your baby learns that communicating results in her needs being met. As she grows older, she will start babbling while she experiments with the noises she can make. Around 9 months of age, she will combine sounds to say things that include "mama" and "dada," and she will be attentive to your words.
12 to 24 Months
By the time your child is 12 to 15 months old, he will be able to say one or more words and understand simple directions. KidsHealth states that by the time he is 18 to 24 months, he will know approximately 20 words, combine two words together and follow complex commands, such as, "Put the toy down and come over here."
3 Years And Older
At age 3, your child will be able to speak in short sentences. Her vocabulary will increase to 800 words by the time she is 4 years old, and she will be able to read simple stories by the time she is 7 years old. As she continues to develop into her late childhood and teenage years, her vocabulary, grammar and comprehension will continue to increase. She will be able to read books of increasing difficulty and converse at an adult level.
Encouraging Development
You can do many things to encourage your child's language development, and even young babies can benefit. Talk to your baby as much as possible throughout the day. Tell him what you are doing while you are preparing his food, changing his diaper or giving him a bath. Try to get him to imitate you and be responsive to his actions and sounds. Read to your child, beginning in his infancy, and continue to read to him throughout his childhood. Encourage him to read books himself and engage him in conversation regularly as he grows older.
Language Problems
You may notice delays in your child's language development, although these delays may be difficult to notice until she is a toddler. If she does not understand simple directions or has problems putting words together, talk to her doctor. Language development problems can be caused by problems with her tongue, hearing difficulties or a lack of brain communication. A speech and language therapist can help to restore language development.
