What skills develop before first words?

What skills will my child develop before they say their first words?

1. Joint attention
2. Gestures
3. Play skills
4. Imitation
5. Understanding words
6. Babbling 
7. How to ride a bike


Answer: 1-6 (and more!)
Communication is much more than just using words and communication skills begin developing long before a child says their first word. Joint attention refers to two people sharing interest in the same object or activity. Gestures include actions like waving, pointing and nodding your head. Play skills and language development are closely related. Children learn about the world around them by exploring through play. Taking turns in play is good practice for learning to take turns in conversations. Children need to understand words before they can use them in a meaningful way. Children also need to learn to copy actions and sounds. When they babble, they are practicing using their voice and stringing sounds together. All of these are foundation skills for speech and language development.

If you have concerns about your child’s speech and language development, call for a free phone consultation.