A–Z Glossary

Babbling

A stage of early speech in which babies repeat speech-like sounds as practice for talking.

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Talking to baby for development

Talking to baby for development

Why talking supports early development During the first three years, the nervous system is highly responsive to language input. Babies are learning to discriminate speech sounds, recognize familiar voices, detect patterns in syllables, and associate spoken labels with people, objects, actions, and emotional states. This learning begins before a child can produce recognizable words. Research […]

When babies say first words by month

When babies say first words by month

What counts as a first word? A first word is usually a consistent vocalization that a baby uses intentionally to refer to a person, object, action, or social routine. It does not have to be pronounced clearly. For example, a baby who repeatedly says “ba” while reaching for a bottle may be using an early […]

Key transitions in baby development

Key transitions in baby development

From reflexes to regulation One of the earliest developmental transitions is the shift from reflex-dominated newborn behavior toward more organized regulation. In the first weeks, many movements are driven by primitive reflexes, flexor tone, startle responses, rooting, sucking, and brief alert periods. Over time, cortical control, sensory processing, and caregiver co-regulation help the baby spend […]

Language development activities baby

Language development activities baby

How babies begin to communicate During the first year, language development is a gradual progression from regulation and social attention to increasingly intentional communication. Newborns listen to the prosody, or rhythm and intonation, of speech and may quiet or orient toward a familiar voice. Over the following months, babies often become more alert to faces, […]

Encouraging baby sounds and babbling

Encouraging baby sounds and babbling

What baby sounds mean Early vocalisations are part of the prelinguistic period, the stage before reliable spoken words. A young infant may produce reflexive cries and vegetative sounds such as grunts during feeding. Over time, many babies begin experimenting with prolonged vowel-like sounds, coos, squeals, growls, and changes in pitch. These experiments help them discover […]

Communication skills in children

Communication skills in children

What communication skills include in childhood In clinical terms, communication includes receptive language, expressive language, speech production, and pragmatics. Receptive language is what a child understands. Expressive language is what a child can say, sign, or otherwise convey. Pragmatics refers to the social use of language: taking turns, staying on topic, adjusting tone, and using […]

How children learn to communicate

How children learn to communicate

Communication starts before first words Communication skills development is deeply social. Newborns cry to signal discomfort, and over the first months they begin to quiet to familiar voices, gaze at faces, and respond to rhythm and tone. These early exchanges are not just emotional; they help organize attention and lay the groundwork for language learning. […]