3 Communication & Language Activities for Babies
One of our favorite things to do is connect with other families at parent and baby groups. We love sharing what we know about the importance of talking with our kids, and we love teaching families things they can do to support language development at home— because we know firsthand how important these things are.
We may not be sitting at a parent group together right now (I so wish we were!), but the fact that you’re here, on our blog with us, feels like a great backup! Because the language activities for babies that we’ve outlined in this post will help you to both talk with your baby and support language development at home— and to do it all with confidence and clarity. We hope this post leaves you feeling recharged and a little less alone in your parenting journey, just like you would after leaving your favorite parent group!
Baby Brain & Language Development
Your child’s brain grows faster in the first three years of life than it ever will again, so you are smart to be thinking about all of this right from the beginning!
When it comes to language development, we know that talking, reading, and singing with your child is essential. But, we know from meeting and connecting with many new parents that these things don’t always come naturally. When our kids aren’t responding back verbally, it can feel like… what’s the point? And we totally get that! But we can assure you that taking the time to incorporate these 3 simple baby language activities into your daily rhythms really will make a big difference for your little one!
The Top 3 Language Activities for Babies
The top 3 language activities we recommend for babies are:
Talking
Reading
Singing
We know these are sooo simple. Maybe they even seem too simple. But we promise you, they’re incredibly impactful for developing language and communication skills. Plus, having the most important language activities be simple like this is great news for us parents! Because A) we have enough on your plates and B) these super-doable language activities are all our babes need!
Baby Language Activity #1: Talking With Your Child
Talking with your baby, even before they can talk back, is sooo important!
By speaking with your child, you’re helping them to make important connections in their brain. You’re helping them develop their receptive language skills (their ability to understand language), and to learn the meaning of words— which happens long before your baby actually says anything at all!
If it feels awkward to you and you don’t know what to say, simply talking through their daily routines is a great place to start. Speak to them about what is happening in the moment. And, remember: communication is more than just speaking. Try to tune into all of the non-verbal communication your baby is sending your way (like sounds, facial expressions, and gestures), and whenever possible, respond to them accordingly.
Baby Language Activity #2: Create a Reading Routine
Another foundational activity to help with baby language development: reading! And creating a simple routine is the perfect way to build reading into your day.
This doesn’t have to mean making a huge commitment. Reading together for about 15 minutes is a great place to start. You can even spread those 15 minutes out across the day if you’d like!
An example of a reading schedule might be something like:
Reading one book before each nap
Reading one book at bedtime
Reading one book during a quiet moment during the day
And know that, once your child starts growing and is on the move, it’s okay if they won’t sit still and listen. They don’t need to be sitting perfectly still. In fact, if they’re wiggly, it’s better to let them roam! Instead of fighting, forcing, or restraining your child for storytime, simply read aloud while they play and explore, or read during a time when they’re sitting and more occupied, like during snack time. This way, you can keep storytime a positive experience for them.
Related: Tips for Reading With a Busy Toddler
Baby Language Activity #3: Sing Songs & Rhymes
If you’ve been part of the Wee Talkers community for even a little while, you’ll know just how much we love songs and rhymes.
Songs and rhymes are so beneficial for both baby and toddler language development because singing sloooows language down, making it easier for your baby to follow along. They provide a lot of repetition too, which is great for little ones trying to grasp new words.
Plus, singing together is every parent’s secret weapon!
Vibe of the day a little off? Sing a song!
Is the fam over waiting in line at the grocery store? Pick a rhyme!
Got a sick toddler stuck at the doctor’s office? Get endorphins flowing by singing together!
You don’t have to be a musical person to do this language activity, either. Trust us, your baby just loves to hear your voice— they’re used to hearing it from inside the womb, so it’s often very comforting to them.
You can find tons of examples of simple songs to sing with your baby on our IG page. Simply look for the black and white videos peppered throughout our feed!
Tips For Becoming A Baby Language Activity Pro
Babies are incredibly capable! As you start to tune into all the tiny, foundational skills they’re developing behind the scenes, it becomes truly amazing to watch them learn. Remember these 3 tips as you start using these baby language activities at home, and you’ll do great!
1. Keep It Simple
Your baby loves talking, singing, and reading with you. Just a little of each one each day is perfect. Don’t overthink it, and please don’t feel like you have to talk all day long. It’s not sustainable or necessary. And remember: your baby loves your voice, and they’ll always be so happy to interact with you!
2. Keep At It
Research shows that babies who hear more words early on in life have stronger language skills down the road. That means the things you do at home make a BIG impact on your baby's brain development.
You’re so important to your baby, these little things you do to help them really matter, and you’re doing an amazing job— even on the days when all you can manage is a quick chat with your baby, or telling Alexa to play children’s music!
3. Keep Learning
There’s so much more we could talk about when it comes to baby language development, but if we keep going, this post will be way too long for your to read during your quick naptime break! So instead, I’d love to send you our free PDF guide on communication milestones from birth to one year.
We think it will really help you navigate the next few months with your babe!