Creating a Language Rich Environment for Babies

One of the things that I find really upsetting as a teacher is children who start school nursery or even Reception with very little speech. Children are often frustrated and can be withdrawn or sometimes aggressive in a bid to make themselves understood.  Children with severe special needs may need some very specific help. However, the majority of children need a language rich environment and this can start from birth. I have been very specific in encouraging the speech development of both of my children. 

Babies often try and reach for mouths when they are being held.  They study faces intently and that is part of the learning process. I let my daughter see my face when I’m talking to her. Sometimes we look in the mirror and talk. I make sounds and let her watch and sometimes feel the sound coming out. She finds bbbb very funny.

I encourage my baby to make sounds by echoing and mimicking what she says. An ahhhha comes out of her mouth and I say it back. She often repeats it and its; as though we are having a little conversation.

We read lots and lots of books together. We have books scattered around the house and I read little and often. At the moment my daughter’s favourite thing about books it what she can grab and put into her mouth but I know that as the months go on this very early reading time will increase in length of time and her interaction.

Touch and feel books are a definite favourite.

I emphasise key words that we use a lot. It’s not coincidence that many babies say mum or dad in their first few words if they are in a house where these words are used regularly. My eldest daughter said cat as one of her first words because at the time we had a cat and used the word a lot. I’ve picked out nappy, milk, teddy and bib as words that I really emphasise. 

We make sure that we see teddy every day.

I sing a lot to my daughter and love watching her face light up to familiar songs. I often sing in the car when she is stuck behind me in the car seat. It’s another way of creating a language rich environment. Some of the songs that I sing are from my own childhood other are from a baby music groups that we go to. One of the music groups, we pay for and the other is free at my local library. They definitely help me to remember songs!

If you want more ideas, I get weekly emails sent to me from the NSPCC’s Look Say Sing Play campaign. It’s free to sign up:

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/look-say-sing-play/