Everyday is a Story: Helping your child learn to listen and talk Maggie Kettler, Au.D. Pediatric Audiologist II Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

You are the #1 teacher! As a parent, you are your child’s first and most important teacher. Your child will learn more from you before his or her second birthday than he or she will from all the school teachers in their life!!!

You will teach your child how to eat, sleep, play, hug and love. You will also teach your child to listen and talk. Most children learn to listen and talk by watching their families and copying what they do.

The more language that a child hears in the first two years of life, the more words the child will know and say. Having a child with more words will help them in the future and will help you!

Decrease your child’s frustration Having your child know more language decreases the frustration of the child. It decreases the amount of crying and tantrums because the child is able to tell you what they want or need earlier. —Who doesn’t want that?

Ways to help your child talk ? Turn off the TV! Most families have the TV on most of the day-with someone watching something or just as noise in the background.

You will be surprised at how much more you will talk to your child when the TV is turned off. Try to set time each day when there is NO TV turned on. Schedule ahead so you can plan your TV time around your favorite shows. Limit the TV being on time to 2 hours per day!

Read to your child Reading to your child helps them learn more words. Research has shown that children’s books have much more complex language than what we use when talking everyday.

READ, READ, READ!!! Find books that interest your child. Find books about Dora, dinosaurs, sports, princesses or whatever interests your child. Read some new books and some repeat books. Children become familiar with books that are read often. They can start recognizing words-helping them to become an early reader.

Establish a book routine. Let your child read a book before naptime and bed. Try to read for 20 minutes each day. Make reading a reward. Snuggle close to your child. Give them hugs and kisses. Soon, they will find a book and want to read to be close to you.

Sing and Play Sing Songs and say Nursery Rhymes with your child. Children who grow up learning the nursery rhymes and singing songs are earlier readers and do better in school as they get older. Songs and rhymes break down language so it is easier for children to learn.

Games to Play Itsy Bitsy Spider Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Five Little Monkeys Peek-A-Boo

Use Word Cues Use word cues for everyday activities. Every morning say the same phrase. “Good morning, Sweet Baby! Time for breakfast.” A child will learn more vocabulary and how to talk about their day. Try to develop routine words and phrases for bath time, naptime, and night time.

Narrate Your Life Imagine that you are telling your child the story of your day, everyday!

Every time the phone rings, say to your child, “I hear the telephone, I wonder if it could be Grandma!” When you go the grocery, talk your child through everything that you do. “I will buy the milk, it is next to the eggs. Yummy! You love eggs!” Walking to your car, say “ Let’s go Bye-Bye! Where should we go today?”

Narrate from the beginning You should talk to your baby from day one. Tell them everything that you are doing. Show them the sounds in their home. Call their sisters, brothers, pets, etc. by name.

This skill is usually easier for women than men Most of us love to talk!

Think about it!! Most babies listen for over one year before they even say their first word! – Even though they can’t talk back and don’t seem to be listening, they are soaking in a lot of information and learning how to talk.

Time Line for Language Skills Birth-3 Months ∞ Startle to loud sounds ∞ Quiets and smiles when spoken to ∞ Seems to recognize your voice and quiets if crying ∞ Increases or decreases sucking behavior in response to sound

4-6 Months ∞Moves eyes in direction of sounds ∞Responds to change in tone of voice. ∞Notices toys that make sound. ∞Pays attention to music

7 Months-1 Year ∞Enjoys games like Peek-A-Boo and Pat-A-Cake ∞Turns and Looks in the direction of sounds ∞Listens when spoken to. ∞Recognizes words for common items like “cup,” “shoe,” “juice” ∞Begins to respond to requests. “Come here”

1-2 Years ∞Points to a few body parts when asked ∞Follows simple commands and understands simple questions “Where are your shoes?” ∞Listens to simple stories, songs, and rhymes ∞Points to pictures in a book when named

2-3 Years ∞Understands differences in meaning (up and down) ∞Follows two requests (Get the book and put it on the table)

3-4 Years ∞Hears you when you call from another room ∞Hears television or radio at the same loudness levels as other family members. ∞Answers simple “who?,” “what?,” “where?,” “why?” questions.

4-5 Years ∞Pay attention to a short story and answers simple questions about it. ∞Hear and understand most of what is said at home and in school.

When to ask for help? If your child is not meeting any of the timelines or if you have concerns about how your child hears or listens, talk to your pediatrician. Ask them for a referral for a hearing test and a speech therapist.

Thank you for your time! Do you have any questions????