Roots of Language Develop in a Baby’s Brain Before They Can Talk!

 
 

I was recently asked to jump into a discussion as an SLP was beginning to work with a family of a 4-month-old who is being fit with a BAHA due to atresia. She asked for suggestions for strategies and where to begin. The first reply was to share music as a way to lay the foundation for listening and spoken language which I second. I jumped in and share that…

I believe modeling reading together with the baby is a powerful way to begin. I love the catchphrase - Read Early. Read Often. I explain that the roots of language are developing in a baby’s brain even before they can talk. Most parents have heard that reading to their child is important but few know exactly why. I like to say that the more words your baby hears over time, the more words they learn. This is simple but helps families connect the dots between reading early and listening and spoken language learning.

I intentionally say this in many different ways so parents are clear that reading together with their baby grows their brain for listening and talking. Each session, I suggest modeling reading and sharing a book while coaching the parents on strategies and also on choosing age-appropriate stories. Hearing First has abundant resources on reading aloud strategies to investigate, incorporate, and share with the parents.

To get started, a few of my favorite books are board books with simple, yet colorful realistic photographs or pictures. I am not a fan of the First 100 Words naming types of books or the only black and white images. Rather, I suggest books with rhythmic language and melody that repeats throughout the book. I love Nursery Rhyme books which contain traditional rhymes, songs, and poems that can be read while rocking or nursing. Some of my early favorites include

  • Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?” by Bill Martin Jr.

  • Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown

  • Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb” by Al Perkins.

  • Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton

  • Peek a Boo Who by Nina Laden

  • Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox

  • Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

  • Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers

  • Pat The Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt

  • Big Book of Nursery Rhymes by Miles Kelly 

A Halloween Mystery Bin - one LSL activity for all the kids on your caseload!

 
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Listening, language, and learning with a Halloween mystery bin is a motivating activity for kids of all ages. I use a clear plastic container, dry pinto beans, and cover seasonal objects with a small swag of artificial autumn leaves to keep the item(s) hidden from view. Chose wisely items that can expand your child’s vocabulary. Acorns, leaves, and found items in nature and the dollar stores, Oriental Trading, and Target’s Dollar Spot have seasonal toys that are inexpensive and just right for a bin. Depending on the child’s goals this activity level can be leveled up or down. Increase or decrease the set size to meet the child's listening and language level.

Here are some ideas to try!

Ear contact before eye contact: Bury seasonal objects, cover with leaves and talk about the item before the child sees it. (Hearing First)  Hide a ghost under the beans. Cue the child to listen. Say Boo, ooo-ooo. I hear a ghost. Boo, ooo-ooo. Uncover the ghost fly it around while saying Boo, ooo-ooo. Hand the ghost to the child and offer the opportunity for them to imitate the ghost.

Listening for descriptions: Hide a spider, a jack-o-lantern, and a few leaves. Ask the child to find an insect something with a face and what grows on trees. 

Categories: Search for something that flies, is scary; seen in a pumpkin patch; is make-believe and so on.

Following directions/critical elements: Find the bat and make it sleep upside down. Put the straw has on the scarecrow.

Auditory memory: Look for the owl. Find the apple, the wagon, and the black cat. Uncover the skeleton, the witch but not the monster.

Auditory Comprehension and Sequencing: Tell a short story with the hidden items. Then, have the child find the objects and retell the story.

Inferences or Riddles: "I am the color of darkness. Witches keep me as their pet." Find it!

Let the child be the teacher: Give the child a turn to bury a toy and describe it to the other players.

Visit my Listen With Lynn store for more Halloween listening and language activities and games.

 
 

Fast Thinking Category Game - Listening & Spoken Language

 
 

Searching for an easy, fun, and engaging game? JUST SAY IT - is a Listening and Spoken Language game created to build vocabulary, classification, and auditory memory skills often needed by children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

While not age-specific it has been successfully used with kids as young Pre-K and up through middle school. This resource can be easily leveled up or down to meet a variety of children's goals. There are 32 categories of multiple levels to support children in developing category knowledge.

 Just Say It! can also be found in TPT as an interactive digital PDF or in my Listen With Lynn™ Boom Learning Store. To use Boom Cards, you must be connected to the Internet.

The LISTENER names the category, keeps the card hidden, and listens for the items named.
The TALKER names as many things they can recall until the time is up.
The players switch places and take turns as either the LISTENER or the TALKER.
1 POINT for each item named in the category
2 POINTS if the item named is shown on the game card 
WINNER The player with the highest score wins. 

View the video to see example game cards including:
Things that are yellow
Things that are round
Things in a kitchen
Animals that swim
School supplies
Things made of metal
Kinds of containers