Working in the rewarding field of early childhood, I am amazed at how well young children talk and communicate. 

Young children are not too small to ignore when it comes to opening up the window of language development.

As soon as babies are born they are very sensitive to sounds around them. Babies express themselves in cooing with “ooh” and “aahs,” then babbling with “ba, ba,” and then they move on to combining different sounds like “da, da” for daddy and “ma, ma” for mama.

Infants also make sounds then repeat them. I know my own child would make the sound of running water when he saw lakes, oceans, or any other bodies of water. By the time a child reaches their first birthday, they usually begin using words with meaning in their “baby talk.”

Home is the very best classroom for early-childhood-language development. Below are some helpful hints in helping your young child to express themselves.

When rocking, strolling, riding, or even being in the grocery store with your infant, toddler or preschooler, talking to your child reinforces language development. Naming objects, sounds such as listening to birds chirp or horns blow, describing upcoming family activities or routine schedules are valuable language experiences.

Children love to listen to stories, poems and songs. Repeating a favorite story with your young child allows them to say the parts they know and to repeat the story in their own words. Children love to describe what they see in pictures.

Play time is necessary for a child to grow, learn, and communicate. Provide a room or space in your home that you are not concerned will get messed up. Provide dress-up clothes, stuffed animals, and toys. It is rewarding to sit back and listen to your child imitate different people and situations.

We have heard “a picture is worth a thousand words”; that is so very true when it comes to young children. They love to draw, scribble, paint and to tell you what they are drawing.

Their pictures — even with glue all over them — is their gift to you.

Play-doh is a language starter as well.

Never forget: Time spent with your young child contributes to successful language development.

Beth Pinyerd lives in Daphne and serves as director of younger children at Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort.