how do babies begin to understand words?

[Ninastar]

I was thinking about this in health and social care today. If a baby/toddler is asked something and they understand it a little bit, how do they know? cause they cant think in words because they no nothing. how do they learn the very easy things if there is no words in their heads to explain it??

If that even makes sense, can someone please explain it to me? Its probably so obvious now that I ask it here. :blush2:

[Novo]

Ask the wise old fox in your avatar

[GypsyGoth]

I think babies are really smart and they just pretend to be dumb and know nothing :hugesmile:

[Ninastar]

I asked vixen already and she said told me to **** off:sad:

[Ninastar]

I think babies are really smart and they just pretend to be dumb and know nothing :hugesmile:

Oh i know!! they could plan to take over! :bawling:

[GypsyGoth]

Maybe it is like with dogs, you know the way you say well done and give them a treat when they get something right.

[Scarlett.]

Like GypsyGoth said, its basically like a dog, they begin to associate words with actions

[Ninastar]

oh right. that is pretty obvious now that you say it. thanks x

[Lauren]

I do Developmental Psychology, including Language!

I find it really hard to explain things...so I'm sorry!! For example, when we were cave people... we didn't have a language, we just spoke in grunts etc. Eventually that developed into a language. Child language is the same, except they have the added extra of child-directed language which uses tone, pitch and volume. If you speak in a higher volume then a child automatically feels a serotonin (happy chemical!) boost.

Also; a baby can recognise it's mothers voice from the womb. It automatically makes them feel safe and through process of social learning they learn what each noise/sound means. So they know that when their parent holds a spoon out and talks to the baby it means food time... eventually by about age 4 toddlers have "theory of mind" which means they actually understand other things... before then the child doesn't realise that other people have other thoughts or views.

Sorry about my terrible explanation, I'd never make a teacher!!!

[Jackie]

I have a grandson of 16 months,he's beginning to learn pretty quick now what you do is clap your hands and at the same time say "clap your hands"Another one say yes,than you would nod your head,and say no you would move your head from side to side each time saying it with the actions.Another one is dance you get up and dance and he copies so everytime you say dance he learns to dance quite easy really basically its spending alot of time with them when their very young as they are the important years before school.

[Lauren]

Yeah Jackie is right... ^ Doing actions whilst talking means they learn via "Social Learning Theory".. babies are so lovely!!

[LemonJam]

I asked vixen already and she said told me to **** off:sad:

LOL, I can imagine her with a proper posh voice.

[Ninastar]

I do Developmental Psychology, including Language!

I find it really hard to explain things...so I'm sorry!! For example, when we were cave people... we didn't have a language, we just spoke in grunts etc. Eventually that developed into a language. Child language is the same, except they have the added extra of child-directed language which uses tone, pitch and volume. If you speak in a higher volume then a child automatically feels a serotonin (happy chemical!) boost.

Also; a baby can recognise it's mothers voice from the womb. It automatically makes them feel safe and through process of social learning they learn what each noise/sound means. So they know that when their parent holds a spoon out and talks to the baby it means food time... eventually by about age 4 toddlers have "theory of mind" which means they actually understand other things... before then the child doesn't realise that other people have other thoughts or views.

Sorry about my terrible explanation, I'd never make a teacher!!!

No that makes so much sense and has helped me so much! thank you so much! I find it adorable how they learn hehe. x

[Ninastar]

I have a grandson of 16 months,he's beginning to learn pretty quick now what you do is clap your hands and at the same time say "clap your hands"Another one say yes,than you would nod your head,and say no you would move your head from side to side each time saying it with the actions.Another one is dance you get up and dance and he copies so everytime you say dance he learns to dance quite easy really basically its spending alot of time with them when their very young as they are the important years before school.

Aww thats really sweet. Its like GypsyGoth said, Its like with dogs how they learn. I think its really smart!