Baby Learns to Speak and Sing
Level 4

LEVEL 4.

BABY LEARNS TO SPEAK AND SING. Baby’s language and speech development.

Baby’s OMSDEP: Her language and speech development intentions:

  • To learn to say every word that is useful to her, perfectly. 

Learning how to say more words:  

Now that baby has learnt to speak two words in a known language she is probably aware that language consists of sounds that have meaning. In fact, she was probably well aware that spoken words have meaning long before now. Even so, she will be practicing speech now and will quite happily learn to say words of which she does not know the meaning. She will do this because she enjoys her newfound talent to mimic other people speaking in the world around her; and she enjoys being part of the human family. Also she will enjoy learning rhymes simply because she enjoys the musical sounds of words that rhyme, for example ‘true’ and ‘blue’, ‘red’ and ‘led’ or ‘tree’ and ‘bee’. Rhymes are very useful for developing pronunciation as children usually enjoy learning them and saying them. She also enjoys saying new words that are new sounds that she has never made before or that are a mixture of new sound and a sound she has made in the past.  

Learning how to pronounce words, even if she does not know their meaning, is very important for baby’s speech development from birth to six years of age. The reason why is that at some time in the future she will most likely need to be able to speak those words, and by then she will probably understand what they mean. It is important, therefore, to speak to baby using all the usual language that she needs to use as an adult. If adults limit the language they use when speaking to baby, thinking this helps her, then they will likely limit her opportunity to hear the sounds used in those words and thereby limit her ability to naturally mimic and speak them. In addition baby is also likely to learn the meaning of many words that she would otherwise not learn if you use those words. 

Speaking adult level language about things that naturally interest baby and using rhymes are two particularly effective ways by which you can help to develop baby’s ability to recognise and pronounce words. 

Learning the meaning of words: 

Concrete words:

Baby has now learnt to make at least two sounds (i.e. words) to communicate to others. She might understand what those words mean or she might not. Quite likely she understands the meaning of the two words she can say as well as the meaning of many more words that the people around her use. The words she will most easily understand are those that are technically called concrete words. Concrete words are words such as table, chair, spoon, dog, mother, father, building, concrete, TV, bed, book, spaghetti and glockenspiel. Concrete words are words that describe objects or actions that can be seen, heard, touched, smelt or tasted. Concrete words in baby’s environment are useful to her as she can ask for a chair, soft toy, macadamia nut butter, or call a person by name. Words that are not concrete words include time, rights, perception, China, experience and psychological. 

 

It is easy for baby to learn the meaning of concrete words as she can literally touch, see, taste, smell and hear concrete objects if they are in her environment. It can be very difficult for baby to learn the meaning of words that are not concrete and not available as concrete objects that she can taste, smell, see, hear or touch in her environment.  Therefore emphasising teaching baby concrete words is the easiest way to give her a broad vocabulary of words she can both say and understand at this Level. 

 

Speak to baby and ask her questions:

When you make her a meal, or give her a chair, a toy, or anything, tell baby quite clearly what you are doing. And ask her questions about what she would like you to do. Then pause and wait for an answer. For example: 

Parent says: “I am spreading macadamia nut butter on this slice of coconut flour bread for you. Then I will put it on this green plate and put it on your table. The macadamia nut butter smells like macadamia nuts and the bread is made from coconut flour. What is your favourite food?” Stop and look expectantly at baby while you wait for her to answer. Give baby 10 to 20 seconds to answer and then continue if she doesn’t answer or congratulate her and respond appropriately if she does answer. 

When baby can speak 25 words and uses one or more 2 word couplets she will move up to Level 5. When she can understand and speak 25 words and one or more 2 word couplets baby has more than a simple basic knowledge about language. She is now well aware of the meaning of many words. She also knows how to use her brain to cause her lungs to breathe out the correct volume of air with sufficient consistent power so her vocal cords vibrate making the sounds required to produce human speech. Additionally, she also knows how to use her brain to place her tongue and lips in the required positions to accurately modify the word sounds produced by her vocal cords. She has also likely learnt to inhale between words. If she has been doing the magnificentparent.com mobility, brachiation, and swimming activities her ability to breathe well and to speak well should be excellent; and therefore she should now have all the abilities required to speak well at this level.

Activities for parents and babies:

  1. Teach baby rhymes by playing the rhyming game. How to do this is explained in Level 3.  

  2. Do not restrict your language because you think baby will understand better. Speak in adult level language but explain what you mean if baby does not understand. 

Try and spend your time among people who speak well. 

Politely interrupt people who use ‘baby talk’.  

Encourage adults to use full and excellent language at all times. 

Every day, frequently congratulate baby for speaking. 

  1. Use concrete words often every day.  

  2. Ask baby many questions that are easy for her to answer and give her 10 to 20 seconds to answer before you speak again. Always be delighted if she answers. If she makes a request try to do as she asks or give her a clearly spoken, rational, honest reason why you can’t. Much of what you say to baby should be in the form of a question rather than a statement. In the normal course of a day an adult is likely to say thousands of words, perhaps even tens of thousands of words. In the normal course of a day a parent speaking to a child at this level is likely to ask over 100 questions. Questions can include; “I’d like to put some toys in the toy box. What should I put in first? “ or “ What would you like to do right now? “

  3. Always introduce baby to other children and adults to whom you speak. Ensure that other adults and children are always introduced to baby. 

  4. Read and do the activities in the section titled “ENJOYING SOUNDS, MUSIC AND LANGUAGES”. 

What baby should be doing at this Level of development: 

  • Speaking 2 words. 

What baby should be doing as she enters the next Level of development:

  • Speaking and understanding 25 words and using one or more 2 word couplets. 

An average child is likely to move on to Level 5 at approximately age 18 months.

A magnificentparent.com child could potentially move on to Level 5 at approximately age 9 months.

Level 5