:: Infant Community

Characteristics of Development

·        Language development begins before birth. As early as 6 months gestation, babies recognize their mother’s voice and begin the inner construction necessary for communication.

·         The family is the first environment for children’s language development. Speaking and responding to your child lays the groundwork for future communication.

·         Babies first communicate through gestures, body language and crying before progressing into cooing and babbling.

·         From 1-3 years of age, children begin talking, first with individual words, then phrases and full sentences.

·         Children of this age are very receptive to learning a second language. If more than one language is spoken at home, parents are encouraged to speak to their child consistently in their native tongue.

 

Classroom Support

·         Children come into the Infant Community with more receptive than expressive language skills. While they understand and can follow many verbal directions, they are still working to express their needs.

·         The Infant Community is a rich environment that supports language development. When presenting any lesson, guides begin by naming all the materials. The classroom is decorated with realistic art. Community snack time provides many opportunities for speaking, listening and vocabulary.

·        Materials are beautiful and realistic to interest the children. They are also rotated every few weeks to add richness to the environment.

·         When children express themselves physically, guides use the opportunity to model appropriate language. The guide might suggest, “You can say ‘my work,’” or, “You can say, ‘help please.’” “Help please” is a great phrase for young children to learn, as it can be used in many situations in which they may feel frustrated.

·         Language materials allow children to first identify real objects and then progress to replicas and pictorial representations on language cards.

·         Materials are presented using the 3-period lesson:

o   Step 1) The guide provides all the information: “This is an apple.”

o   Step 2) The guide says, “Show me the apple,” and the child responds.

o   Step 3) The child provides all the information when the guide asks, “What is this?”

 

Tips for Families

For The Youngest Infants (0-1 year)

·         Speak directly to your child frequently and respond to his/her needs or sounds. This is the basis for all language development. When you listen to your child, you are saying, “Your words are important.”

·         Respond to babbling as if you were having a stimulating conversation with your child. Language is learned through hearing.

·         Speak slowly to your child. Babies acquire language more easily when shorter sentences are used with longer pauses between words.

·         Talk to your baby throughout the day, especially about what you are doing. Describe and name concrete things immediately in the environment. Babies and toddlers don’t have the same sense of time that we do.  

·        Whenever possible, avoid using pacifiers during the babbling stage, as they can inhibit the ability to make sounds with the lips, tongue and jaw.

·        There is some debate as to the usefulness of sign language. If sign language is used, it should be accompanied by spoken language.

 

For Infant Community Children (14 months – 3 years)

·        Continue to have conversations with your child. Give appropriate names for things in the environment, avoiding baby talk. Speak slowly and clearly.

·         Babies and toddlers are most likely to respond to words at the end of a sentence. For example, if you say, “Look at the butterfly,” they hear “butterfly.” If you say, “Don’t run!” they hear “Run!”

·         When possible, tell children what you want them to do, instead of what you don’t want them to do, for instance, “You can walk” instead of “Don’t run.”

·         Allow enough time for children to respond, either with actions or words.

·         Avoid answering for your child, and help older siblings refrain from doing so.

·         Read to your child from reality-based books. Choose books with big pictures and short repetitive words or phrases.

·         Recite rhymes and sing songs together. Your child loves to hear your voice.

·         Offer choices that provide the opportunity to speak rather than nod or grunt.

·         Avoid correcting grammar or pronunciation, but do model the appropriate way to say a word. For example, if you say “banana” and the child says “nana,” you could say “yes, banana.”

·         Avoid TV or other screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends “No TV under 3.” Your child needs concrete experiences, interaction and conversation.

·         Remember to enjoy silence and the sounds of nature.