The Importance of Prelinguistic Skills
11 Prelinguistic Skills and Why They Are Essential for Early Communication Development
When we think about language development in children, we often jump straight to the milestone of their first words. But before a child starts speaking, they must first develop a range of prelinguistic skills—the foundational abilities that enable them to communicate without words. These early communication skills, which lay the groundwork for later verbal language, are crucial in helping babies and toddlers interact with the world around them.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into Laura Mize’s 11 prelinguistic skills, exploring what each one involves, why it’s important, and how parents and caregivers can support the development of these essential abilities.
What Are Prelinguistic Skills?
Prelinguistic skills refer to the communication behaviors that babies and toddlers develop before they can speak actual words. These skills are typically non-verbal and include things like making eye contact, using gestures, babbling, and sharing attention with others. These early skills serve as the building blocks for more complex language development, which will eventually include words, sentences, and conversations.
Laura Mize, a speech-language pathologist specializing in early language development, has identified 11 key prelinguistic skills that are crucial for children as they begin their language journey.
Laura Mize’s 11 Prelinguistic Skills
1. Eye Contact
Eye contact is one of the first ways babies communicate. When a baby gazes at their caregiver, they’re not just making eye contact—they’re establishing a connection. This early form of communication is essential for creating social bonds and signaling interest in the world around them.
2. Attention to Communication
As babies grow, they begin to focus on communication, paying attention to others’ gestures, facial expressions, and sounds. When babies show interest in the voices or faces of those around them, they’re learning how communication works and beginning to form the basis for their own interactions.
3. Cooing
Around 6-8 weeks, babies begin to coo. These early vocalizations, made up of simple vowel sounds like "oo" or "ah," are a critical step in language development. They help babies experiment with their vocal cords and familiarize themselves with the rhythm of speech.
4. Babbling
By about 4-6 months, babies begin combining consonant and vowel sounds, producing repetitive syllables like “ba-ba” or “da-da.” Babbling helps babies practice controlling their mouths and experimenting with the sounds needed for actual speech.
5. Gestures
Pointing, waving, reaching, and other hand movements are key forms of early communication. Before a baby has the words to express themselves, they use gestures to convey needs and interact with others. These gestures often serve as a precursor to more complex verbal communication.
6. Facial Expressions
Facial expressions, such as smiling, frowning, or making surprised faces, are another form of non-verbal communication that babies use to express emotions. These expressions are essential for signaling feelings and intentions before words come into play.
7. Turn-Taking
Turn-taking is the foundation of any conversation, and babies begin practicing this skill early on. Simple exchanges like back-and-forth vocalizations or playing peek-a-boo teach babies that communication involves both speaking and listening—giving and receiving.
8. Joint Attention
Joint attention occurs when a baby and a caregiver focus on the same object or event. For instance, if a caregiver points to a bird, a baby might look at the bird and then look back at the caregiver. This shared focus is essential for learning new words and concepts, as it helps children link words with objects, actions, and people.
9. Imitation
Imitation is a key learning tool in early childhood development. Babies begin to imitate actions, sounds, and facial expressions, which helps them develop social and communication skills. By copying behaviors, they learn how to interact and communicate in the world around them.
10. Anticipation
Anticipation is when a baby begins to predict what will happen next based on previous experiences. For example, if a caregiver always waves and says "bye-bye" before leaving, the baby may begin to anticipate the routine. This skill lays the groundwork for understanding cause-and-effect relationships and anticipating verbal cues.
11. Vocalization of Needs
Even before they can form words, babies vocalize to express their needs, such as crying when they’re hungry or cooing to signal they want attention. This early form of communication is essential in signaling emotions and needs, and it helps parents or caregivers respond to the baby’s cues.
Why Are These Skills So Important?
These 11 prelinguistic skills serve as the essential foundation for later verbal language development. Without mastering these early communication behaviors, children might struggle to develop more complex language skills later on. These prelinguistic skills help babies and toddlers:
Learn the basics of social interaction: Eye contact, turn-taking, and joint attention lay the groundwork for engaging in conversations and social relationships.
Experiment with sounds and speech: Cooing, babbling, and imitating help children practice the sounds and rhythm of speech before using words.
Understand cause-and-effect: Skills like anticipation help children grasp the concept of cause and effect, which is essential for learning language and communication.
Express their needs: Vocalizing needs and using gestures helps babies communicate their desires and emotions before they can speak.
In short, these skills are the first steps in helping children develop the ability to communicate with the world around them. They’re crucial for building confidence, social connections, and language skills as the child matures.
How Can Parents Support the Development of Prelinguistic Skills?
As a parent or caregiver, there are many simple ways to encourage the development of these skills:
Respond to Communication: Whether your child is cooing, babbling, or gesturing, respond to them in kind. This reinforces their efforts and teaches them that communication is a two-way process.
Engage in Interactive Play: Games like peek-a-boo, singing, and reading together help promote eye contact, turn-taking, and joint attention, which are all key prelinguistic skills.
Model Communication Behaviors: Use gestures, facial expressions, and sounds that your child can imitate. This helps them practice and refine their communication skills.
Create Predictable Routines: Routines help babies anticipate what will happen next and give them a sense of security. Incorporate words and actions in these routines to reinforce learning.
Encourage Imitation: Actively encourage your child to imitate you, whether it’s a sound, a gesture, or an action. This helps them build connections between their own behavior and the world around them.
Conclusion
Laura Mize’s 11 prelinguistic skills are essential for a child’s early communication development. They provide the building blocks for later language skills and help children understand how to interact with others, express their needs, and learn about the world. By fostering these prelinguistic skills through everyday interactions, parents and caregivers can create an environment that promotes language development and strengthens social bonds.
Remember, the foundation for effective communication begins long before children speak their first words. The more we nurture these early skills, the more confident and competent our children will be when they’re ready to use words and engage in more complex conversations.
