STAGES OF COMMUNICATION IN CHILDREN

Stages of communication in children

1. PRE-INTENTIVE STAGE

Communication with the senses

0-8 month old baby comes in contact with us with all the senses. He doesn’t have many ways to explore the surrounding environment and moves without any purpose. Uses the same mode of action and acting in its routines. Sight, facial expressions and sounds have no special purposes. Parental response leads children to connect to the environment. The child looks without understanding and reacts to an affective tone. In his routine, he knows some self-made signals that will help in understanding the surrounding enviroment. In this period of exploration with the senses and movement the baby begins to show interest in the environment, to recognize some regularity in the routine and to react with special gesture. He begins to show some connection. Asking to repeat some gestures and sounds which are present in his repertoire to react to other situations, is the first step of imitation.

2. PURPOSE COMMUNICATION

8-12 month old baby shows his purpose. He understands that his action has an effect on the object and person and seeks to recreate that effect. He insists on an activity he undertakes and  looks at adults to act in relation with them. Gains expression in communication, sets the reference to join the interlocutor. Tries to imitate the actions he sees in adults and produces strings of syllables that can be pasted with heard words. He can find an object he has seen being hidden. His activity that is directed towards a goal of setting decides the line between objects, other and events.

3. FROM COMMUNICATIVE GESTURES TO THE FIRST WORDS

12-18 months has interest connecting with other persons. He wants the attention of the adults.

He looks for objects from the adults with sounds gestures and short words.

He wants to show objects and name them.

He points and uses gestures to indicate changes or events in his environment.

Uses social gestures (thumbs up, greetings).

Understands more familiar words in the context of the situation.

The ability to show objects has increased (16-24 months) can find an object that can be hidden after three obstacles. Begins to imitate actions. Makes the connection of the object and the result.

4. SYMBOLIC COMMUNICATION

At the age of 18-24 months, symbolic thinking begins, pretending games, looking for objects in many places where you can hide them. There are ideas to use strategies to achieve the goal eg with a stick approaching an object. Makes the connection between objects, persons and environmental events. Recognizes words even in the absence of indicators. The meaning of the word approaches the concept. Begins to understand the connection between words.