Don’t leave the TV on all the time If you’re not watching, don’t leave the TV on all the time. This is because the background noise from the TV may cause a delay in language development, which in turn directly affects your child’s progress in learning to speak. Teach sign language first Important sign languages: mommy, daddy, me, want, thank you, etc. Learning these iconic sign languages first will help your baby learn to speak faster. Make cards or fridge stickers of your baby’s favorite things. When he needs something and can’t express it yet, he can pick out the card or fridge sticker and give it to you. You can prepare hard cardboard and make your own. Draw things that your baby may use, such as cups, food, beds, toys, etc., on the cardboard, then cut them out and stick them on the refrigerator with double-sided tape or small porcelain pieces. Babies are easily frustrated when they are anxious to talk and can’t, and this can help them communicate with others. Spend 40 minutes a day (several times a day) playing with your child, and try to play only one game, such as “run fast with the car” or “red ball,” while using simple phrases to communicate with your child. They learn the fastest. Take the cards and teach your baby to look at the pictures, say the names of the objects on them, and have them repeat what you say. Some cards will have a raised and recessed design, and babies love the feeling of touching them. Cotton ball and straw game Get a small cotton ball, put it on the floor or table, give your baby a straw and let him blow through the straw to move the cotton ball. Games like this help exercise your baby’s mouth muscles and help them talk early. Be sure to do this under adult supervision! Eat through a straw, not just liquids By around 12 months, you can let your baby drink through a straw, but not just liquids. You can prepare foods such as water, milk, homemade jams, purees, and shakes, and exercise their mouths with different textures. However, you need to be careful not to have large particles to avoid getting stuck in the throat. Wrap up straws Prepare curved and various forms of straws for babies to drink from. Straws that are relatively complex in construction will make little mouths take more effort to drink, which is both muscle-building and fun. Put things far away Put things your baby wants, toys, food, books, etc., out of their reach so they have to get to it with your help. Teach them to call you through sign language, and then let them find what they want in a refrigerator sticker or card, or just point it out to you. Teach your baby the sign language “I want” and show them how to do it as you say it. Encourage your baby with every little improvement. Show them that you recognize them and let them know they are doing a great job. Before 2 months When parents speak to their babies, they occasionally see their lips open and close up and down in response, looking as if they are responding to or mimicking the movements of the adult’s mouth. But at this time, the baby’s voice is still only “crying”, mostly to express his emotions. 3 to 4 months Slowly to 3 months, the baby will begin to make simple sounds, such as giggling, but there is no meaning, most of the baby suddenly “play” sound, and then find it interesting (such as parental response) and continue to try. Johnnie Lam, the therapist said that before the baby is 4 months old, most of them belong to the spontaneous sound development. 5-6 months At this time, the baby’s tongue and lips are becoming more and more sophisticated, plus slowly know how to express emotions, so there will be more interaction with the primary caregiver. Sounds are still relatively monophonic, but gradually they can try to associate certain sounds with certain things, such as responding to the sound of their parents calling their names. From 7 to 8 months of age, they can make distinctive “chi” and “ci” sounds between their lips and teeth, and are more able to link certain sounds to people and things. However, if your baby’s response in this area is not good, parents are advised to pay more attention to it. 9-10 months Babies have richer language skills, and some of them have the ability to understand a little bit of adult language. The ability to understand affects the future development of “spoken language”, so some babies can say their first meaningful words as early as this period. After 10 months, there is a greater diversity of meaningful words and a more pronounced “name-calling response,” and babies may be interested in naming certain objects (e.g., pointing to a doll and making superimposed sounds). However, some babies may not say their first meaningful word until after 10 months, so parents should not rush, after all, each child has its own rhythm of accumulated information, stimulation, and physiological development, parents just need to observe and interact more.