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Baby's
Age
|
Baby's
Understanding
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Baby's
Means of Expression
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Your Response
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0-1
month
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Responds
to sounds, especially familiar voices; goes quiet when picked
up. Establishes feeding rhythms and patterns.
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Crying,
grunting, sighing, blowing bubbles. Feeding rhythms develop
as 'cues' for you to respond to, for example, breaking off
to gaze at you when he is less hungry.
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Picking
him up, talking to him face to face. Responding to his'cues'
while feeding by talking, smiling or staying silent.
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1-4
months
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First
smile, in response to approaches and talking from you - usually
around five to six weeks. Recognition of you and familiar
faces and objects (e.g. bottle). Anticipation of being picked
up - excited arm-waving and kicking.
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Non-crying
noises such as cooing and gurgling, also first laugh. Cries
become more expressive - of hunger, tiredness, impatience,
etc.
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Learning
to distinguish his cries and to respond to them differently.
Still talking sensibly to him, you may imitate his sounds
which may encourage him to make them again. You will probably
tickle and tease him to produce smiles and laughter.
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|
4-6
months
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Recognises
and responds to familiar sounds, voices and objects. Reacts
to tones of voice - is upset by anger, cheered by brightness
and jollity.
|
Babble
begins - 'ga' and 'goo' soundsjoined together. Makes noises
to show his feelings of pleasure or distress.
|
You
will continue talking to him, but particularly in response
to his own noises. He will be having more varied experiences
- with solid food, learning to hold toys, etc. - which gives
you more to talk about.
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|
6-9 months
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Understanding
signs - e.g. bib means food. Also understanding 'up' or'down'
or 'Daddy's coming'. Responds to his own name and other familiar
names.
|
Makes
appropriate gestures, such as raising his arms to be picked
up. Continues babbling - tries out a few single syllables,
can imitate, clap and play peekaboo.
|
You are getting a lot more pleasure out of him now, and you
will tailor your speech much more to his under- standing,
using clear single words to help him learn. More games, less
face-to-face chat as he may be mobile. You will talk to him
as he does other things.
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|
9-12
months
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Understands
games like dropping and picking up a toy. Understands 'Give
me' and 'No'. Follows instructions like 'Kiss teddy'. Enjoys
songs, action rhymes. Understands own daily routine.
|
May
produce first words - probably 'dada' or'mama' or 'bye'. Much
expressive babbling as well. Plays with toys and objects and
shows he knows what they are for.
|
Your
own speech will be much more designed to respond to his, for
example, naming things repeatedly, giving him instructions,
asking him questions, checking his knowledge - `Let's get
dressed', etc. Other people, like friends and grannies, will
be talking to him and getting a response.
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12-15
months
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Follows
simple commands. Can point to pictures of things he knows,
knows parts of body, listens carefully to you and others.
Laughs at humorous events, e.g. funny faces, falling, etc.
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May
say two or three words, but still much speech- like chatter
with no meaning. Shows he knows use of things by more complex
play, especially as he becomes mobile.
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Still
echoing his words, pointing out new ones, questions, commands
and, as he becomes mobile, more 'no's' and 'don'ts'. In addition
conversation increasingly based on real events as he becomes
more active.
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15-20
months
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Recognising
many objects and pictures of objects. Can make plans, anticipate
future. Begins to understand 'in', 'on', 'me' and 'her'. Understands
things and events in his own daily life almost completely.
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Single
word vocabulary will continue to increase and will include
words such as 'more', 'all gone', 'no', as well as some verbs,
object names and attempts to copy sounds such as car and animal
noises. Child may use his vocabulary for requesting and commenting.
Vocabulary increases gradually from between 10 to about 30
words. There can be a wide range in expression ability at
this time.
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A
fascinating period for you as your child is now physically
independent, very enquiring and beginning to respond much
more verbally. Also a lot of work! Many more occasions for
conversation through play, outings, shared activities.
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20-24
months
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Understands
longer sentences, recognises objects and pictures in greater
numbers. Can match familiar objects. Understands 'more', 'here',
and 'now'. He witl enjoy and follow very simple stories.
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Vocabulary
increasing from 30 to 60 or 70 words, some of them joined
to make two-word sentences. Makes up own words, tries to tell
you about things that have happened.
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More
for you to listen to. You may have to interpret much of what
he says to others, particularly special words. You will not
be doing all the initiating, he will be talking to you and
telling you things.
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24-30
months
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More
understanding of concepts -'big' 'small', 'one', 'a lot'.
Can pass on a message. Enjoys stories and will remember details.
If asked can name pictures, match pictures, define where things
are - 'in', 'under', 'over, etc. He will begin to understand
cause and effect: 'If you bounce on the bed, you'll fall off.'
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Vocabulary
becomes impossible to keep track of - 200 to 400 words, many
of them in short sentences and phrases. Uses verbs, plurals,
possessives ('Mummy's', 'teddy's',) and question words such
as 'where'', 'what?', etc.
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You
are much more equal in conversation now. He is no longer a
language learner, he is a partner in conversation. You can
begin to reason with him: you can say why and how things happen.
Stories, games, television programmes, all mean more to him
now: he will be able to follow a plot with your help.
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30-40
months
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Can
describe pictured actions, understand size differences. Remembers
events and can tell you about them. Recognises and corrects
inaccuracies in stories or messages. Can put words into categories,
e.g. 'A cat is an animal.'
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Can
anticipate, tell you what he is going to do. Vocabulary 500
to 1,000 words. Many sentences are proper grammar, with a
few childish errors. Remembers nursery rhymes, can play Let's
Pretend games.
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You
will not be the principal person he talks to now. He can explain
things to anyone, joining in with other children. He is a
person you converse with. He may have a brother or sister
too with whom he will be talking.
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