TALKING TO THE BABY: SOME EXPERT ADVICE
Published: May 5, 1987
WHILE some researchers seek better ways to detect language delays in children that could herald developmental problems, others are exploring factors that foster linguistic ability in normal children. Their findings suggest that some common parental tactics - such as talking a lot to a child in one-way conversations - are ineffective at stimulating early acquisition of language skills.
The quality and timing of adult conversations with babies have much more impact than the quantity of verbal input on the children's language development, the studies show. Advantages of Skills
Although babies who learn to talk early are not necessarily any smarter than those whose language development is slower, early skills in using language can give children a head start in both cognitive development and social skills. Children who can express themselves well may be more effective at making their needs and wants known, more likely to assume leadership roles among their peers and more likely to interact with older children and adults. Those with advanced language comprehension are better able to extract verbal information from their environment. And those with more advanced oral language are also likely to be more advanced in written language.
At Boston University's School of Education, Dr. Paula Menyuk, director of the language behavior program, found in an extended study of 56 families with new babies that talking with the children, not at them, prompted early language development. By analyzing audio and video recordings made during monthly home visits until the children were 3 1/2 years old, Dr. Menyuk and her co-workers found that parents who supplied babies with a steady stream of information were not necessarily helpful. Rather, early, rich language skills were more likely to develop when parents provided lots of opportunities for their infants and toddlers to ''talk'' and when parents listened and responded to the babies' communications.
For example, Dr. Menyuk noted, a mother may say, ''Hi, baby'' then pause, ''How are you?'' then pause again. The pauses, she explained, allow the baby to respond and help the mother to focus on what the baby has to ''say.''
''This teaches the baby - even young infants - that language is important for communication, that people listen to and care about what you say,'' Dr. Menyuk explained. Ask Babies Questions
Half the children in her study were born prematurely, but she found that prematurity in itself did not impair language development. ''By one year of age, they appear to be caught up to full-term infants,'' she reported.
Her advice to parents: Get your babies involved in discourse with you by asking lots of questions. Then listen to the responses and provide further feedback. For children who have started talking, repeat the child's observations, pronouncing words correctly and using more complex sentences. And be sure to answer children's questions; this gives them a sense of control in the conversation.
Across the Charles River at Harvard's Graduate School of Education, Dr. Catherine Snow's research underscores this advice. ''Mothers who talk a lot are apt to quickly leave behind topics that are of interest to the child,'' she remarked in an interview. ''Children learn how to talk faster when mothers pick up on topics the children introduce and request input from the children instead of always telling them what to do.''