COMMUNICATION: The Sharing of Ideas

1. COMMUNICATION:The Sharing of Ideas

2. WHAT IS COMMUNICATION? • As human beings we use communication to set us apart from other animals on this earth. • We can speak, use our bodies and faces to impart information and emotions, and with modern technology we can share information across the planet in a matter of seconds. • Often we interchange communication with language. • Language is very specific to human beings, although as we watch animals, we know that they can communicate.

3. The Development of Language • Language is, simply said, the understanding of what is said and the ability to organize words to express that understanding. • How does all that begin? • It begins at birth. Some research has indicated that it may begin before birth. • Let’s look at the ‘building blocks’ for language that happen with every one of us.

4. BUILDING BLOCKS FOR LANGUAGE • 0 to 1 month—crying and vegetative sounds • 2-3 months—eye gaze develops • 6-9 months—joint attention. The child will watch and respond to someone interacting with him/her. • 9-12 months—using gestures • 12-15 months—following simple commands • 18 months—symbolic play, pretend play • 24 months—sequencing of activities. The baby can stay with an activity, adding several different actions • 36 months—’episodic’ play, that is the child will include other people in her play and the play can change places and the idea not be interrupted. A story evolves. • At the 12 to 15 month level, interaction in language begins. This is critical in socialization. • All of these milestones amazingly develop in all languages, not just English.

5. THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE • In the beginning of a child’s life, he/she must have adequate nutrition, good health, and positive interaction with the caregivers. If any of these vital elements is missing, then development across the board will be delayed. The most critical in the development of language from a physical point of view is hearing. Ear infections and fluid on the ear can interrupt the precise development of sounds, understanding of what is said and learning words. • Let’s look at the first year of life in regards to what is expected in understanding and vocal output. • Birth to 2 months: (receptive and expressive) • The baby should: glance momentarily at a person who talks to him/her; enjoy caregiver’s attention; react to sounds other than voices in the environment; look intently at a speaker. He/she should have: a suck /swallow reflex; vocalize soft throaty sounds; respond to a speaker by smiling.

6. 3 to 5 months: (receptive and expressive) • The baby should: turns his/her head to locate the source of sound; actively search to find a person who is talking; discriminates one sound from another; mouths objects. He/she should: vary the pitch, length, and volume of cries; vocalize pleasure and displeasure sounds; vocalize when talked to and move arms and legs during the vocalizations. • 6 to 8 months: (receptive and expressive) • The baby should: shake and bang objects in play; interrupt an activity when you call his or her name; anticipate what will happen next; actively search for the source of sound when the source is not visible. He/she should: protest by gesturing or vocalizing; vocalize two different vowel sounds; vocalize two different consonant sounds and combine sounds to forma a syllable such as /ba/ for ball or /pa/ for popping bubbles.

7. 9 to 11 months: (receptive and expressive) • The baby should: look at objects or people the caregiver calls attention to (look at the _____, or look at daddy); understand what you want when you extend your hands and say ‘Come with me; ’ respond to “no, no;” understand a specific word or phrase other than ‘no’ for family members, pets, objects, or social routines. • He/she should: seek attention from others; play simple games (such as peek-a-boo); communicate nonverbally, using gestures or pushing and pulling (such as waving ‘bye bye.’