From babbling to first words to full sentences — vocabulary building, conversation skills, and the joy of communication from birth through age 3.
Language development begins long before your child says their first word. From the moment they hear your voice, their brain is mapping the sound categories of their native language, learning the rhythm of conversation, and building the neural pathways that will eventually produce speech.
A randomized controlled trial by Ferjan Ramirez, Lytle, and Kuhl published in PNAS found that coaching parents to use parentese — the naturally exaggerated, melodic speech adults use with babies — led to significantly more infant vocalizations and larger vocabularies by 18 months. Our language activities progress from early parentese conversations through babbling games, first words, two-word phrases, and conversational skills, giving you simple ways to support your child's language journey every day.
Use slow, melodic, exaggerated speech to talk directly to your baby.
Sing simple songs that emphasize repeated syllable patterns.
Pair simple signs with words to give your baby a way to communicate before speech.
Practice animal sounds together to build vocabulary and imitation.
Name objects you see throughout the day to build vocabulary.
Ask open-ended questions to encourage longer responses and storytelling.
Download TinySteps for free. We pick the perfect activity for your child each day based on their age and development.
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