(FREE) What Skills Come Before Talking?

Before Words Come: Why Prelinguistic Skills Matter

Before a child says their first word, so much is already happening.

Prelinguistic skills are the building blocks that come before spoken language- things like making eye contact, taking turns, pointing to share something exciting, and babbling back and forth. These early skills aren't just cute baby moments. They're the foundation language is built on.

Think of it like a house: you lay the foundation before the walls go up. When these early skills are strong, words have somewhere to land.

Key prelinguistic skills include:

• Joint attention — sharing a moment of focus together
• Intentional communication — reaching, pointing, or vocalizing on purpose
• Turn-taking — the back-and-forth rhythm of conversation
• Imitation — copying sounds, actions, and expressions

Supporting these skills first isn't slowing language down, but setting it up to take off!