25d • 📚 LEARNING TOGETHER
Prelinguistic Skills
Prelinguistic Skills: The Foundation Before Words
Before children talk, they learn how to communicate through development of lots of small skills. These early building blocks are called prelinguistic skills, and they matter just as much (if not more) than first words.
Here are the big ones to know and watch for.
👀 Attention & Engagement
This is the ability to:
- Attend to people, objects, or activities
- Shift attention between an object and a person
- Stay engaged long enough to learn from interaction
Examples:
- Watching a caregiver’s face
- Looking at a toy someone else is holding
- Staying with an activity for short periods
Why it matters:
If a child can’t attend, they can’t observe language models or learn patterns.
🔁 Imitation
Imitation comes before language production.
This includes:
- Motor imitation (clapping, banging, gestures)
- Object imitation (pushing a car, stacking blocks)
- Vocal imitation (sounds, babbling, intonation)
Why it matters:
Speech is learned through imitation first. Kids copy language first.
If imitation is weak, spoken language will be hard.
🌍 Response to the Environment
This is how a child reacts to what’s happening around them (eg. sounds, sights, people).
Examples:
- Turning when their name is called
- Reacting to sounds, movement, or changes
- Showing interest when something exciting happens
Why it matters:
Language is interactive. Children need to notice and respond to their environment to participate in communication.
🤝 Joint Attention
Joint attention = shared focus between a child and another person.
Examples:
- Looking where someone points
- Bringing an object to show someone
- Looking back and forth between a toy and a caregiver
Why it matters:
This is where language lives. Words make sense when they’re shared.
🎭 Intentional Communication (Without Words)
Before words, kids communicate with:
- Gestures
- Facial expressions
- Vocalizations
- Leading adults to what they want
Why it matters:
Communication intent must come before speech. If a child isn’t trying to communicate, words won’t be functional.
🚨 Important Reminder
A child can:
- Know words
- Label items
- Even echo speech
…and still struggle with functional communication if prelinguistic skills are weak.
That’s why therapy (and support at home) often focuses below the word level first.
What This Means for Therapy & Parents
If a child is not yet talking:
- Don’t rush words
- Build engagement
- Encourage imitation
- Make communication fun and meaningful
Words come after connection.
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Prelinguistic Skills
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