Every parent wants to give their baby the best start in life, and language development is very much a part of this. Learning and social development are based on it, and because children learn it through their environment, parents have the chance to enrich their lives with words.

Here are some ways to create a language-rich environment for your little one.

Keep the conversation going. It can feel silly at times, but constantly talking to your baby is one of the best ways to encourage your language development. Even if they can't respond, they can absorb new vocabulary and gain a general understanding of how language works. Remembering this should help you overcome any embarrassment when you are narrating your actions aloud in public.

Repetition is recognition. Repeat simple words and phrases to describe your family and the world around your baby. This helps babies pick up on linguistic sounds and patterns, as well as increase their vocabulary more quickly. Even a nursery rhyme or simple poem you like can help. It’s also a nice way to share versions of these you loved as a child.

Sow a love of books in infancy, and your baby will reap the benefits for a lifetime. Encourage language development through the sound of your own voice and colourful pictures in baby-friendly books. They’ll eventually start to associate the words with the images and begin to learn new words and structure basic sentences. As we mentioned, repetition is good. If your book repeats lines, fall silent at the last word and encourage your baby to point or vocalise, especially if the word is short and onomatopoeic.

Sing to your baby. Songs are based on rhythm and melody, making them naturally easy to remember. Lyrics can also help to grow your baby’s vocabulary, and having a sing-song is fun.

Playtime is for learning. Have fun with words while you play with your child. Describe favourite toes and narrate games to help them learn new words and sentence structures.

Gesture for understanding. As we’ve discussed elsewhere on the Baby Speech Journey, gestures help babies associate words with actions and objects. Always wave them hello and goodbye while you say the words aloud. Label things in their environment and say the names as you point to the objects.

Baby signing supports language development before your baby can speak. This form of sign language involves using simple hand gestures to represent the words and phrases you commonly use with your baby. Using baby sign language can give them a clear outlet and reduce their frustration at not being able to communicate verbally yet.

Answer your baby: Babbles and coos should be answered as though your baby has spoken words. Treat them as though they’re part of a conversation to make your baby feel heard and understood, and encourage them to experiment with sounds and language.

Put the devices away. Screens can definitely impact language development. When it comes to your baby's communication, nothing compares to engaging with humans through talking, reading, and singing. Physical activities like bouncing and tickling while you talk are also better than sharing a screen.

How can parents encourage early language development in babies?

From our Baby Speech Journey, Unii shares some strategies for early language development.