Building the Foundations for Speech: Why Prelinguistic Skills Matter
- Jerlyn Tong
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
When parents think about language development, they often focus on a child’s first words - “mama,” “dada,” or “ball.”
But before children start talking, there is an important stage that lays the foundation for communication: prelinguistic skills.
These early skills are essential to helping children learn to communicate, even before they know what to say.
What Are Prelinguistic Skills?
Prelinguistic skills are the non-verbal building blocks of communication that develop before a child begins to use words. They include skills such as:
Making eye contact
Taking turns in interaction
Using gestures (e.g., pointing, reaching)
Responding to others
Sharing attention (joint attention)
Showing interest in people and surroundings
These skills help children understand that communication is a shared, back-and-forth experience.
Why Are Prelinguistic Skills Important?
Children don’t learn language in isolation; they learn it through connection and interaction. Strong prelinguistic skills help children:
Develop social engagement
Understand communication intent (e.g., requesting, sharing, protesting)
Build attention and listening skills
Lay the groundwork for speech and language development
Without these foundational skills, children may struggle with:
Initiating communication
Responding to others
Learning and using words meaningfully
Signs a Child May Need Support
Some children may need additional support in developing prelinguistic skills. You might notice:
Limited eye contact
Reduced response to their name
Difficulty engaging in back-and-forth play
Minimal use of gestures (e.g., pointing, waving)
A preference for playing alone rather than interacting
Limited attempts to communicate needs or interests
Early support can make a significant difference in helping children build these foundational skills.
How We Support Prelinguistic Skills in Therapy
In Developmental therapy, we focus on creating meaningful, engaging interactions that naturally encourage communication.
Rather than “teaching words” right away, we first build the foundation for communication through play and connection. Some of the ways we do this include:
1. Building Joint Attention
We work on helping the child and adult focus on the same object or activity—an essential skill for learning language. For example:
Playing with bubbles and waiting for the child to look at us before continuing
Sharing excitement over a toy or activity
2. Encouraging Turn-Taking
Through simple games (e.g., rolling a ball, stacking blocks), we help children learn the rhythm of interaction:
My turn → Your turn. This builds the foundation for conversation later on.
3. Using Gestures and Non-Verbal Communication
We model and encourage gestures such as:
Pointing
Reaching
Showing objects
These are often a child’s first tools for expressing themselves.
4. Using Declarative Language
We use comments and observations instead of constant questions or instructions.
For example:
“That’s a big tower!”
“Wow, it popped!”
This creates a more natural and inviting communication environment.
Why Early Intervention Matters
Prelinguistic skills develop in the earliest years of life, and early support can:
Strengthen communication foundations
Prevent future language delays
Build confidence and social connection
The earlier we support these skills, the easier it is for children to transition into using words and sentences meaningfully.
Let’s Support Your Child Together
If you’ve noticed that your child:
Is not yet talking
Has difficulty engaging or responding
Shows limited interest in interaction
It may be helpful to look at their prelinguistic skills. At our centre, we focus on building strong communication foundations through play-based, child-led developmental therapy, supporting each child at their own pace.
Reach out to learn more about how we can support your child’s communication journey or to book a consultation.
A Professional Support
Call/WhatsApp: +65 9115 8895
Fill out the reachout form: www.totalcommunication.com.sg/contact
Jerlyn Tong
Developmental & Educational Therapist
She is an Educational Therapist at Total Communication, holding a Bachelor (Honours) in Linguistics and Multilingual Studies from Nanyang Technological University, with a Minor in Special Needs Education. She has experience supporting children with special needs through early intervention and tutoring, and is trained in approaches such as Visualizing and Verbalizing, Seeing Stars, and the Feuerstein method. Jerlyn is passionate about creating a safe, supportive environment where children can build language, thinking skills, and confidence.
Important Links:
Comments