If you've ever wondered if it's really worth it talking to your baby, as your pediatrician may have suggested, the truth is that it's not just worth it; it is the best you can do for your baby. I must confess it took me a while to understand this concept; when I had my first child, my husband returned from the office late in the afternoon, and it was just my baby and me. Silent felt proper and peaceful, and on the contrary, just talking about every move I made sounded a bit insane, as she couldn’t talk back.
Talking
Every word you say is a building block for a baby’s language foundation. Research shows that the more words babies hear, the faster they learn to talk, which is also associated with school success. That's right—you're your children’s first teacher, and you are creating new brain connections just by talking to them.
When you chat about everyday things, you're turning their brains into little sponges that soak up all the knowledge. Those baby babbles and toddler tales are a training ground for social skills. They learn how to have conversations, listen, and take turns.
Reading
My favorite way of exposing children to words is through reading. At an early age, you are not just exposing them to new words; in this way, words are supported by images. Let them play and interact with books. These are just the first encounters with them, as books are going to be a central tool for developing language and imagination for life.
Include reading in your daily routine. We always cuddle before bedtime for a book. It has always been a special moment to cuddle and share a story. It's bonding time, and it sets a foundation for them to see books as friends, not just collections of pages. It will start with you reading and maybe not even getting to the end of the book, you blink, and they are not only ready with the book before bedtime but asking you for another book, another blink, and it is your child who is reading the book to you.
Singing
And now, the part where you get to show off your karaoke skills in the name of child development –Let’s sing! Don't be shy, and don’t worry if you're no Beyoncé; your voice will be seen as the most fabulous one, at least for a couple of years!
Singing introduces kids to melody, rhythm, and language. Those catchy rhymes and tunes help them remember words better.
Singing is a fantastic way for kids to express themselves emotionally.
Movement is part of the package. When kids dance to the beat, they're building coordination and physical skills. Plus, while singing nursery rhymes model how to do the fingerplay movement, they help develop fine motor skills, too: Coordination and control of small muscles.
At the end of the day, talking, reading, and singing are like the superhero trio that makes your child's journey joyous and safe while creating the basic wiring for all they need to learn and experience in their lives. Who would say that it all falls into simple actions we can all do every day? So go on, keep talking, reading, and singing like the rockstar parent you are. Your tiny human might not say it yet, but trust me, they're cheering you on from the bottom of their little hearts.