From the moment a baby is born, they are building the skills that prepare them to talk. These are called prelinguistic skills or preverbal skills. They are the ways children communicate before they have words. Examples include eye contact, gestures, facial expressions, imitation, and joint attention. These early abilities set the stage for children to be ready to talk. Prelinguistic skills form the foundation for understanding and using words later on. For example, when a chi

Every child communicates in their own way. Total Communication helps us recognize and support all the ways children connect, through gestures, sounds, signs, pictures, and AAC, giving them the tools to grow, share, and be understood.

Before children begin to talk, they go through a stage of development where they learn how to connect, engage, and interact with others without using words. These foundational abilities are called prelinguistic skills, and they play a vital role in preparing children for speech, language, and social communication.

Before children begin to talk, they go through an important stage of development where they learn to connect, engage, and interact with others without using words. These early abilities are called prelinguistic skills , and they form the foundation for speech, language, and social communication. When we nurture these early skills, we help children take their first steps toward intentional communication. Prelinguistic Skills Every Parent Should Know About  This 3-part blog ser

Did you know that most children begin to combine words once they have a solid foundation of early vocabulary? This is a key step in language development, when communication becomes more expressive and meaningful. But what if your child isn’t using words yet, or isn’t combining them? Whether your child is a late talker, nonverbal, or using AAC to communicate, there are powerful ways to support language growth, starting with something called core vocabulary . What is Core Vocab

Using simple, familiar phrases during daily routines can help your child’s communication blossom.

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Key early communication skills to watch for and how you can support them at home.