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The Power of Play: A Childhood Speech Expert Weighs In
The Power of Play: A Childhood Speech Expert Weighs In
The Power of Play: A Childhood Speech Expert Weighs In
|Ashley Rivera
HOW BABIES LEARN LANGUAGE
Born to learn
From birth, infants can recognize sounds from every human language. Over time, their brains tune into the sounds they hear most.
Interaction matters most
Babies learn through live, responsive moments like hearing your voice, watching your expressions, and playing back-and-forth.
Power of repetition
Familiar songs, daily narration, and naming what you see add up over time, turning ordinary moments into powerful language learning.
Language development:
First three years
0–6 months
Sensory exploration and sound recognition
6–12 months
Object permanence and sound tuning
12–24 months
First words and imitation
24–36 months
Imaginative play and early conversation
Each stage builds on the last and your voice makes all the difference.
Why does parent-guided learning work?
Language grows through connection. When babies hear words from someone they trust, learning becomes meaningful, not mechanical. Birdsong products are designed to guide interaction, not replace it.