Since he already understands what you are saying, it is time to speak.
During the first year, the baby rehearses: lengthens vowels (“aaaaa”), repeats syllables (“ma, ma, ma, ma”) and combines sounds (“ti-ta, ti-ta”), and when it arrives their first birthday (not all children are equally fast) say their first meaningful word (“hello”, “mom” …). but to encourage him to speak, first you have to talk a lot with him, because at the base of the language is contact with reality. These games will help you.
1. Take and give me
Sit in front of the little one (six or nine months old) on a carpet. Place some of his toys around so that he can reach them well.
Give me the truck, you ask. In this way you check that he knows the words, that he understands the meanings. If you don’t understand, take the truck and show it to him: “Here’s the truck!” When you understand the words, you go to a more complex level: will you be able to say them? Emitting a word is more difficult than understanding it, it requires more maturity. To invite him to make the effort to name things, when you ask him for objects for a while, change the toys. Now put them next to you and ask: “What do you want?” At first, the little one will point out what he wants (it is easier for him), but you should invite him to ask you verbally. When it does (it will say “on” instead of truck), you applaud and congratulate it with great enthusiasm.
2. Our favorite album
Make a photo album that contains pictures of the objects that are part of the baby’s life. Put pictures of the family, grandparents, siblings (better if they are their faces), their comfort object, the neighbor’s pet that they like so much, their bottle … Sit the baby on your lap and look at the album with him.
Stop before each image and in a soft voice ask him questions about what is in front of him: “Who is this?” Answer if he is still too small: “Dad!” And what does he have on his head? A cap!…”. When you’re done commenting on the photo in front of you, add a little intrigue to the topic and ask with excitement about what’s coming next. “And now, what’s next?!”.
With this game you help him to fix his attention, to notice the details beyond the set, to interpret what he sees and to develop memory. When you have seen the album many times you will love to anticipate everything that is coming with its special rag tongue.