29/08/2025
📌 An important sketch… and many parents have asked us about it
Your child might not be speaking yet, or maybe only says one or two words.
But does that mean there’s a problem? Not necessarily!
Before a child says their first word, there’s a very important stage called Prelinguistic Skills. This stage is the foundation on which speech and language are built later on.
---
👶 So, what are prelinguistic skills?
They are a set of abilities and behaviors that children develop from the very first months of life, helping them understand and communicate with others—even without words.
---
✨ Examples of prelinguistic skills include:
Eye Contact: looking at you while you talk or play.
Imitation: copying your facial expressions or simple sounds like “ba” or “ma.”
Joint Attention: looking at a toy or object you’re pointing to, sharing the focus with you.
Gestures & Pointing: raising hands or pointing to something they want.
Babbling: making sounds like “da-da” or “ga-ga,” even if they’re not real words.
Responding to Sounds: turning when they hear their name or a new sound.
All of these are signs that your child is building the foundation for language.
---
🔍 When should we be concerned?
If your child:
Doesn’t make eye contact or respond to sounds.
Rarely makes sounds and stays unusually quiet.
Doesn’t use gestures or pointing.
Doesn’t try to imitate sounds or movements.
Then it might be time to consult a speech and language therapist.
---
🎯 Why are these skills important?
They’re like the first building blocks of speech and language.
If a child skips or struggles with these, language development later on can be delayed.
---
🏡 How can we support these skills at home?
Play face-to-face and at your child’s eye level.
Use clear facial expressions and hand movements.
Respond to your child’s sounds as if it’s a conversation.
Set daily routines for songs and interactive games (like peek-a-boo or clapping).
Talk to your child a lot about what’s around them—even if they’re not talking back yet.
---
💡 In short:
Prelinguistic skills aren’t optional—they’re the base for your child’s speech and language development.
The earlier we support them, the stronger the child’s communication skills will be.
And if you notice these skills are missing, it’s best to act early and seek professional help.