Most of us don't give a lot of thought to teaching our child how to talk. It happens naturally in the give and take interaction of life. New words are learned; proper grammar is mastered as our children imitate our speech. But how do we know if our child is developmentally on target in their language development?

Laura Dyer has searched the latest academic research to bring us this comprehensive guidebook on language development. There truly is something here for every parent.

The first section details ways to enhance language development and includes everything from helping your baby to communicate to being a good language model. Ms. Dyer next tackles the influences on language development and has a lot to teach us about gender, birth order, TV and computers, among other things. In Chapter three, she tackles some common concerns about language development, ranging from ear infections to auditory processing problems. Next, she gives us the milestones to look for at each age, along with activities to enhance these language skills, even pre-literacy skills! In Chapter seven, she makes a case for teaching your child sign language, even when they are not hearing-impaired. Next, she addresses bilingualism and second-language learning and rounds out the book with a fun chapter on using musical activities and imaginative play to enhance language skills.

A jam-packed resource section completes this comprehensive resource. This is a book for every parent!



--Product Review by: Christine Field, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine