Your Little Linguist: Play’s Role in Language Development

Your Little Linguist: Play’s Role in Language Development


Human babies are among the most helpless of all animals at birth, and their development unfolds more slowly than any other animal. Remarkably though, in one year of life, human babies develop the ability to understand and produce speech–a characteristic unique in the animal kingdom. By age three, a child is able to communicate complex feelings, as well as understand and follow directions from another person.

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Just as the human brain is hard-wired to eat, sleep, and walk, it is also wired to learn language. From birth to six months of age, the human brain can hear and detect the sounds of every language. By six months of age, a child can only distinguish those sounds found in his native language. At this point, the neurons in the brain are hard-wiring based on the sounds the child repeatedly hears.

Babies are innately designed to talk, but environment plays a role too. Harvard researchers who studied children in Romanian orphanages saw firsthand the profound effect environment has on child development. Although the children’s basic needs were met, the children were often left in cribs for hours with little interaction or stimulation. Most of the children were profoundly delayed in all areas of their development, including language.

Researchers concluded that play and interactions with loving caregivers are as essential to healthy growth as adequate food, water, and shelter. But why is play so important to language development?

  • Through play, babies learn the joy of babbling and vocalization. Babies love to hear nursery rhymes or silly songs. By six to eight months of age, they can mimic your voice and imitate these songs. Games like Pat-a-Cake or Peek-a-Boo teach baby to listen in anticipation. Parents play these games over and over again. This repetition builds the pathways between neurons in the brain, paving the way for later language development.
  • Babies learn the reciprocal nature of language. For example, maybe you’re playing farm with baby. You move the cow around, saying “moo.” Baby picks up another cow and says “moo” in response. Later, as your toddler or young preschooler plays kitchen or house, you take turns talking. “Please make me some spaghetti,” you say. Or, “Here’s a cup of tea.” These early lessons teach baby syntax and grammar, as well as the all-important skill of conversational turn taking.
  • Play also builds vocabulary. Children learn prepositions when playing with blocks or even climbing playground equipment. Words like “above,” “below,” “over,” and “under” are defined and understood. Pretend play opens up a whole world of vocabulary for young children. Through play, you can identify and label all sorts of play props–cars, balls, trucks, blocks, pretend food, dress-up clothes, or art supplies.
  • Most importantly, play builds strong relationships, which are the foundation of all communication, including gestures, body language, and verbal language. When children feel safe, loved, and valued, they want to communicate with the adults in their lives. Because they feel heard, they are motivated to share their ideas, wants and dreams.

(Playful Bee is launching our new DIY Preschool from Birth program! Click here to enroll.)

Play needn’t be complicated or time-consuming, nor do you need expensive toys or equipment. Instead, stock up on classic, open-ended toys, such as blocks, dolls, cars, puzzles, and books. Give your baby or toddler time to play and explore every day. Even the stack of plastic cups in your kitchen cupboard offer play opportunities. Children need time to play and explore alone, as well as time to play with a loving parent. Follow your baby’s lead and don’t be afraid to get a little silly. These early experiences offer big paybacks in later language development.

Julie Christensen

Julie Christensen taught early childhood education in public and private settings for more than 20 years. Today, she’s a freelance writer and the busy mom of four terrific kids. She lives in Colorado and loves camping, hiking and exploring the Rocky Mountains with her kids and husband.

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