By smartneurons

Since ancient times, parents have held a childs hand and taught him or her everything they know. Skills and ways to earn a living were handed down from father to son and mother to daughter. In the fast paced and ever changing world of today, you must know how a child learns in order to help it develop appropriate language skills.

The first step is to make time for the child in your busy schedule. Rework your life to give priority to the child. Spend quality time and read as well as sing songs to the child everyday. You could play soft music and other tapes like chants and so on in the childs room at specific times each day. Music enhances memory and learning.

Speak to the child and give the child time to respond. Make everyday activities a learning time–introduce names of foods, point to the bath tub and say bath, show the child the sponge or soap, help the child recognize the animals and toys in the bath by introducing things like ' baby duck–quack, quack.'

Children listen, they learn how to discriminate specific sounds, and then they associate sound with actions, and finally put together sounds with what they actually mean.

Be vigilant at all times. If you have any doubts or notice any problems please consult a doctor.

Play 'follow the leader'

Well have you thought of things you can do to encourage speech and language development? Well you dont need special training or courses to do this. Think about it–you smile and the baby smiles at you. So, if you play 'follow the leader' your baby will ape whatever you do and unconsciously learn.

So, you must make faces at and sounds like ma, da, ba, and so on at the baby. Strike a conversation with the baby while feeding, bathing, or bonding with the baby. Tell the baby what is happening and all about other family members and pets. Help the child recognize objects and colors by saying things like, 'Ah nice red ball, or cuddly brown bear.' Dont just use single words say, 'Mama loves baby.'

Interactive Learning Tools

Innovations in learning have been in existence since time immemorial. Early humans used the walls of the caves to express themselves and teach young ones. With time, humans used beads, terracotta plaques, and Abacus counters to teach. Colorful blocks and cards were used in memory games to sharpen retentive skills as well as recognition in children.

With the many innovations in technology and the fast pace life is taking, age-old methods of crooning songs while sitting with the child on a rocking chair, or spending hours just conversing with a child are fast changing. What is popular is interactive teaching materials that are fun, CDs and DVDs from companies like Smart Neurons and several other companies make learning a fun process. These are specially designed by language experts to enrich a childs vocabulary of words while simultaneously placing them in the appropriate context. The CDs and DVDs are more than interesting, they stimulate natural language and promote learning through play.

Stay One Step Ahead

You will benefit if you make an effort to find out all you can about language development. There are self-help books as well as web sites and articles written by experts.

It is important to understand that the learning curve for every child is unique. Some talk early while others do so a little later but most do catch up. So, dont be anxious and try and push the child. If in doubt, ask the doctor. Plan to spend quality time with the child, listen to the childs moods and choices. Introduce laughter and joy by singing action songs, making comic faces, and playing 'pat-a-cake.'

Article was contributed by Smart Neurons http://www.smartneurons.com . Smart Neurons offers kids educational software, video and other educational aids that encourage critical thinking, imagination and leadership skills among children.

By Nicole Munoz

Language and speech are primarily learned through imitation and observation. During infancy, babies listen to their parents talk and they pay close attention when someone talks to them. This observation of casual conversation is the foundation for a child's understanding of their native language.

There are several activities and games you and your child can engage in to enhance her language development. While your little one is still an infant, encourage her to imitate simple syllables like "ma" or "da". Repeat any sounds your baby attempts and praise her efforts. Talk to your infant often, using everyday activities like feedings or bath time as opportunities to develop new language skills. Describe everything you do and name the everyday objects you and your little one come in contact with.

Gestures and understanding their meanings are an important part of early language skills so teach your infant to wave goodbye, to nod yes, and to shake her head no. Imitating these simple gestures will help her learn nursery rhymes and songs during her toddler years. Reading to your child on a daily basis is vital to language development. Begin reading to your baby at birth and continue throughout childhood.

By her first birthday, your baby will most likely know how to say a few words. Encourage her speech by expanding on her simple words and phrases. Read picture books that emphasize animals, colors, shapes, or everyday objects. Say the names of the pictures and allow your little one to point to the correct object. Remember to praise her efforts and attempts.

Once your child reaches her preschool years, she will have a good grasp on language and should be talking in complete sentences. Continue to read to your child. Reading favorite story books again and again has been proven to enhance early language development and can improve reading comprehension skills. Nursery rhymes and silly songs also help your child learn speech patterns and language skills.

Talk to your preschooler and listen when she talks to you. Repeat her sentences to correct any pronunciation or grammatical errors without chastising her mistakes. Encourage her oral language and her vocabulary skills by naming common objects, familiar people, and body parts and then describing them. Ask questions that require your child to make a choice rather than answer yes or no. Support your preschoolers emerging language skills by requiring her to use her words to ask for things or to explain her feelings when she gets upset.

Make your own picture book with your child. Help your preschooler colllect pictures of her favorite toys, animals, people, and things and then allow her to sort the pictures into groups. Glue the pictures onto paper and have your child dictate the labels as you write. Read your picture book together often and add new pictures and words as her vocabulary grows.

My First Amazing Diary is a great software program to enhance language development. This educational software has several fun games that allow your preschooler to express herself through pictures. The program will grow with your child and her language development, encouraging simple word use and pictures to create stories and journal entries at level two and offering creative story starters and interactive journaling at level three.

For more tips on parenting an educational toys see our site www.thekidstoystore.com.