The child from the first days of life is trying to communicate with you. Initially, this is only sign language, body, crying. About six months the baby begins to babble. To his first birthday, he utters simple words, and after a year he uses about 200 words and forms of a simple sentence in the speech. This is the most common option. However, not all children develop so smoothly. About what the stages of the development of children's speech and with what problems parents may face, and will be discussed below.
Child hearing test
This is something that must be done at the very beginning of a child's life. If there are any problems with hearing, the child's speech may develop incorrectly or not develop at all. A child who does not hear can not communicate normally. Therefore, if your baby does not even have time to say syllables to 10 months - show the child an ENT doctor. Of course, a child is checked at birth, but this can not be done fully at this age. So, even if you were told that everything is in order at birth, this is not the final guarantee that hearing problems will not occur in the future. Sometimes, for example, hearing may worsen or even disappear as a result of illness (more often it is the effects of meningitis). So check your child's hearing periodically to be sure that this will not cause problems with the development of speech.
Difficult periods
There are periods in the life of a little man, when the development of speech can be difficult. This happens at the beginning of the second year - the child is keen on walking and simply "forgets" about the conversation. Fast-growing physically children also neglect other skills, such as speech. This period you just need to wait. After a few weeks, everything returns to normal. The main thing - all this time, encourage the child to talk, so that he does not become accustomed to communicate.
If the child stubbornly remains silent
Some children in the second or even third year of life still use only a few sounds and communicate mostly by gestures and facial expressions. No matter how parents try to encourage him to talk, nothing happens. The reasons for this phenomenon can be different. For example:
- If the child's needs are satisfied, before they are expressed in words, he simply does not need to speak. Often, parents make the mistake of fulfilling the child's demands on the first gesture. You must let him know that he must explain in words what he needs. Give the child a stimulus for speech development.
- There is no person next to the child with whom he would like to talk. For example, you are at work, and the baby is left in the care of a grandmother who reads or knits all day and does not communicate with the child at all.
- If the parents are too strict with the child and many forbid him, the kid can remain silent to emphasize his own opinion. This is especially true of boys. Take a look at your child and evaluate your treatment with him.
- If you "load" the child with more and more new activities - he gets tired and closes in himself. The kid should have time for rest, games and sleep, for experience, for free communication with whom he wants. If there are too many incentives to talk, the child is lost, it is difficult for him to perceive the world around him.
- Silence can also be a reaction to the quarrels of parents, to transfer it to a day nursery, a kindergarten, to move, for a long stay in the hospital.
Regular stages in the development of children's speech
2-3 months
The child begins to walk. He has the first sounds, while only the vowels (aaa, uh, uuu). He perceives the surroundings more consciously, tries to express emotions. For example, he can smile and at the same time pull a sound. This is the germ of the future speech.
What you can do: Talk as much as possible with your child, communicate with him, creating a dialogue of gestures and facial expressions. Repeat sounds issued by a small child to encourage his "communication" with you.
What causes concern: The child does not make any sounds at all and does not pay attention to people who speak to him. He does not react to sounds, even the loudest and sharpest.
8-11 months
The child begins to pronounce syllables - first individually, and then in lines, for example, ra-ra, ma-ma. The first words are created, as a rule, by accident. The kid does not yet associate them with the objects that they mean.
What you can do: Emphasize the importance of speaking for the child. Stimulate him to talk, praise him, communicate with him, pronouncing clearly every word. Do not lisp with the baby! He can already correlate words in meaning and he will copy your manner of speaking. It is at this age that the foundation of the child's future speech is laid. Talk to him, read to him simple poetry, sing children's songs.
What causes concern: The child continues to walk. He did not even begin to babble, pronouncing syllables.
1 year of life
The child speaks in simple words, expresses his needs and thoughts. Correlates words with the concepts they mean. Quickly learns, learns new words and uses them in speech. By the end of the first year the child is already able to pronounce simple sentences, to bind them in speech. Nevertheless, the kid is still very happy to talk with gestures, trying to get something as an encouragement.
What you can do: Read books, show the child pictures, photos and encourage him to tell what he sees. Sing the songs together - the children are very willing to learn this way. It is in the songs that their speech apparatus develops, the skills of uttering sounds are instilled.
What causes concern: The child not only does not say any phrases, but even individual words. He does not fulfill simple requests, does not understand their meaning. He does not connect sounds, his speech is incoherent walking and babbling.
2-3 years
The child is able to communicate more or less fully. He understands everything, relates words to objects, composes phrases and sentences. His vocabulary is enriched swiftly, he strives to speak as much as possible. It is very important at this time to ensure that all sounds are pronounced correctly. Of course, the sound "p" is hard to come by and usually the children begin to reprimand it a little later.
What you can do: Continue to communicate with the child on an equal footing - he will appreciate it. Ask him to perform more complex tasks, such as, for example, "bring a book that lies on a table". You can complicate the task by asking: "And where is our favorite book?" Let the child find it herself.
What causes concern: The kid does not try to combine words into sentences. Continues to use only simple sounds, does not enrich the vocabulary.
If you are sure that the child hears and understands you, and the speech therapist confirms that there are no birth defects - give the child time. Go through all stages of development calmly - children's speech is sometimes unpredictable. The child can remain silent until three years, and then suddenly start talking at once with complex phrases and sentences. The main thing - do not worry before the time and always praise the child for what he does well. Let him feel important and loved.