Early Childhood Communication Development

The development of human communication skills lasts throughout life. Beginning in the womb and continuing into adulthood, communication skill is one of the key characteristics that make us human and set us apart from other animals.

In the Womb

• From inside the womb, babies are already communicating feelings by different motions. The most obvious form of communication is kicking, but other communication movements, such as arm flailing and fist clenching, can be seen through ultrasounds.

At Birth

• Communication is noted by doctors at birth through different aspects such as grimacing and crying.

After Birth

• The first years after birth are some of the most vital in communication growth. This is when babies may begin to attempt to match different intonations they hear. For instance, a child may hear the word "good" and in turn, make a "coo" sound.

Brain activity

• During early childhood, synapses are connecting on a massive scale, and brain activity is twice that of an adult.

Word Recognition

• Babies can recognize words beginning roughly a year and a half after birth. This is the time at babbling and cooing begins.