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From Syllables to Sentences
How Toddlers Learn Language
By Teri Brown
Dr. Vivian Rider, a pediatrician for HealthPartners in St. Paul, Minn., says that babies begin learning language at birth. "By the time a child is a toddler, they have actually already learned a lot of language," Dr. Rider says. "Babies, even in the first hours of life, begin to learn by imitating what they see and hear. They begin by imitating facial expressions, such as opening their mouth when they see this done. Studies have shown that infants do respond with recognition to voices they have heard before birth. They are already paying attention!"
According to Dr. Rider, as babies begin to try to talk, first by cooing (vowel sounds) and then by babbling (consonant sounds, like "gaga," "dada," "mama"), they receive positive reinforcement by the smiles and oohs and aahs of their parents. The attention they receive makes them want to try more sounds, such as raspberries, squeals and giggles.
"Before they can say recognizable words, they babble with intonation that sounds like they are speaking in sentences," Dr. Rider says. "The more verbal interaction that babies and toddlers have with those in their environment, the more they absorb."
Far before they can speak, babies can understand what is being said to them. Many toddlers can carry out simple instructions before they can actually speak more tan a handful of words. Dr. Rider says that quality interaction between a parent and child is far more effective in learning language than any formal lessons or program.
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