Early Communication

Parents of babies and younger children wonder whether their child is acquiring language and speech typically. If you are feeling overwhelmed about your child’s communication, want to do more to support your child’s developing communication, or just have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. 

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Why do young children communicate?

To tell us “no!” or what they see and feel, ask for snacks and tickles, ask questions for information, to argue, show off, explain, respond to your questions, to greet others, and more.  These are the functions of communication and language; the more functions, the better. 

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How do these new, mini humans, accomplish these amazing communicative feats? 

Through combinations of facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, tone of voice, crying, smiling, vocalizations, yelling, pulling us around, giving/sharing, showing, and beautiful laughter. All these forms of pre-verbal communication are important, and are the forms of communication.

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Verbal language is developing as these other skills begin to emerge. Starting with sound effects (think animals and cars), single words, and short phrases, verbal language develops alongside other important forms of communication.

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Early communication skills will be targeted through play and parent training.