Parents and families hold important keys to instilling a child's need and desire to talk and be understood. Use these tips to stimulate speech and language at home, no matter what your child's first language:

• Interact frequently with words, gestures and facial expressions.
• Talk out loud to yourself near your youngster. Describe simply what you are doing, seeing or feeling. You can also say how your child is occupied, not asking for a response but providing an auditory experience.
• Respond enthusiastically when your child talks. Express your happiness at using words!
• Wait for your child to attempt talking before you figure out the message; don't jump at every gesture. Your confusion, even if feigned, encourages children's efforts to tell you what they want.
• Affirm your little talker's successes. Repeat back the correct word usage, and expand on it. For instance, if your daughter says "ball," you could excitedly respond, "Yes, look at the ball!"
• Provide speech and language opportunities throughout the day. Ask questions, read books, sing songs together.
• Find ways to show your child that speech is an important tool in getting what you need and expressing what you feel.

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If you would like more information on speech and language acquisition or other issues mentioned in this article, call SPARK at 212-360-0259 or e-mail jcleary@spence-chapin.org.