10/18/2021
Using parentese can help your baby learn.
What you might think of as traditional “baby-talk” is not the same thing. Using made up words (“goo goo ga ga”), mispronounced words (“wittle baby”) and ungrammatical language (“what cute little feets”) is not ideal for supporting your baby’s language development. But using parentese is.
Parentese involves simple but grammatical language spoken in a higher pitch and at a slower rate. It sounds happy, catches baby’s attention and sparks a socially engaging interaction.
To do this try:
- Using more exaggerated highs and lows in your voice
- Stretch out the vowels in important words
- Use real words are correct grammar
- Get face to face and use exaggerated facial expressions
Parentese is also referred to as infant-directed speech. Some other characteristics adults use exclusively when they speak to babies and young children (and that are helpful to baby’s language learning) include:
- symbolic words/sounds: woof, beep, boom
- words that follow consistent grammar rules: horsey (for horse), kitty (for cat), tummy (for stomach)
- repetitive words: night-night, bye-bye, choo-choo.
So, even if the thought of speaking in parentese makes you cringe, take comfort in the fact that parentese is used world wide in nearly all languages and research shows it helps your baby learn!
