Families For Life | Language Development: How to Build Vocabulary for Infants and Toddlers

Hear the language, learn the language — studies show that the more words a baby hears, used multiple times and in different contexts, the better the child will understand the meaning of those words and begin using them.

Early communication and language development forms the basis for literacy, predicting better outcomes in school and beyond. It also supports children’s cognitive and social-emotional development, including problem-solving skills and learning to express feelings and form relationships.

Here are some fun ways to incorporate language into children’s daily routines.

1. Make Reading A Daily Habit

Choose books with illustrations. Point out and describe the pictures while reading in an animated tone. It is okay if babies want to hear the same story, as repetition helps with understanding and acquiring new words. Babies will respond with coos, gestures and facial expressions. As they gradually become more familiar with the books, ask them questions about the pictures (e.g. “Where is the moon?” or “What colour is the ball?”).

2. Say Things Out Loud

Narrate what you are doing (e.g. “Here we go into the bathtub” or “I’m putting on your socks”). Be attentive to infants’ gestures, facial expressions and sounds, and respond verbally. For example, when your baby coos, coo back. When they reach for a toy, you can say, “Do you want the toy?”. This introduces children to the back-and-forth nature of conversations.

3. Use Songs and Games

Babies and toddlers love nursery rhymes. Besides the catchy melodies and repetitive lyrics, songs like ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’ have accompanying actions to help children understand what the words mean. Pretend play is another good vocabulary-building activity. Act out parts of a story, pretend to chat on a play phone, or host a tea party with soft toys.

4. Speak 'Parentese'

Unlike the meaningless “goo-goo-ga-ga” of baby talk, ‘parentese’ is a communication style that uses real words and is characterised by a high-pitched, sing-song voice and long vowel sounds (e.g. “Hiiii, bayybeee!” or “The dog is sooo cuuuute!”). This way of speaking holds children’s attention and helps them remember words better. Make eye contact when speaking ‘parentese’ to your baby. Pause and give your child a chance to respond in their own way.

5. Weave New Words into Everyday Conversations

During mealtimes, talk about the flavours, textures and colours of food. When your baby notices a family photo at home, tell them where it was taken and about the people in the photo. While travelling, describe what you see outside the window. Once children start using words, build on what they say. For instance, if your child says “ball”, you can reply descriptively with “Yes, it is a big red ball”.

Contributed by:
Early Childhood Development Agency