Small Talk: From First Gestures to Simple Sentences

An expert on child development helps moms and dads understand their baby's first efforts at speech and other ways of communicating. In Small Talk, Dr. Woolfson reviews a typical child's speech development from birth to age three. From the start, babies convey messages through cries and gurgles, then through eye contact, facial expressions, and body language. By 5 to 6 months, a baby will make an increasing number of vowel and consonant sounds that resemble words, and between 9 and 12 months, will begin saying simple words such as "dada" and "mama." Between the baby's first and second birthdays, vocabularies grow rapidly, and toddlers begin speaking in simple sentences. Beyond age two, speech patterns include asking questions and giving instructions. Doctor Woolfson emphasizes that verbal and visual stimulation from parents plays a vital role in their child's speech development and listening comprehension, and he recommends story-telling and picture books as fine starting points. As toddlers get a little older, socializing with their peers is also vital to help them develop a wide range of communication skills. This valuable book of advice is filled with color photos and informative sidebars and charts.