Baby talk shouldn't be a huge cause for concern. Sometimes it stems from a stressful situation, such as having a new baby in the home. Other times, children revert to baby talk because they miss being a young child and they want to be coddled again.
Parenting educator Judy Arnall, author of Discipline Without Distress, says that school-aged kids use baby talk as a way of getting their parents to notice them. “If your child isn't getting enough positive attention, she may try something else,” she says.
Children sometimes use “baby talk” to signal a need for closeness, and it's okay to respond to that emotional cue. If your child is ready to learn more age-appropriate ways to request, you can coach them to do that too.
“Children who are stressed almost always regress,” said Dr. Laura Markham of AhaParenting. “Regression means that the child is not able to cope in as mature a manner as they have recently mastered, because they feel too overwhelmed.”
“Sometimes, traumatic events or mental health issues can trigger a child to regress.” Otherwise, she says, reverting to baby-talk isn't generally a cause for concern once you've ruled out speech and language delays and your child is developing along normal lines.
Acting immature can be a sign that kids are struggling and need more support. Hyperactivity, trouble with focus, and not getting enough sleep can be factors. Connect with other adults to find out what they've noticed, and work together to help kids develop skills.
Infantile speech, pedolalia, baby talk, infantile perseveration, or infantilism is a speech disorder, persistence of early speech development stage beyond the age when it is normally expected.
At 11, your daughter will likely start spending more time with friends and less time with your family. They may start to assert their own identity and push back against your authority, leading to potential conflicts.
Her memory may be developing, and she may start recalling some parts of her babyhood and how good it felt to be cared for as an infant. Plus, pretending to be a baby for a while can be fun. It certainly has its benefits, like receiving your undivided attention and snuggling in your arms.
Immature personality disorder (IPD) was a type of personality disorder diagnosis. It is characterized by lack of emotional development, low tolerance of stress and anxiety, inability to accept personal responsibility, and reliance on age-inappropriate defense mechanisms.
For older children, she said, “it can stem from low self-esteem or is used to seek attention from peers and/or adults.” Hurley recommends that teachers and parents look at the underlying feelings behind upspeak and baby talk.
“Sometimes things like changes within the household, such as a new sibling, can cause kids to regress a little, but it's pretty normal,” says Nikki Sulaica, a child and adolescent psychologist in West Bloomfield. “Kids also sometimes get positive attention from it, which makes them think it's funny or cute.”
In some cases, excessive talking could be a sign of an underlying condition. Kids who deal with symptoms of anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and other conditions may present with a tendency to talk more.
“Baby talk signals closeness, is a method of 'mirroring' to evoke positive emotions, and fosters secure attachment with one another,” says Dr. Hall. “It indicates a desire to nurture your partner and the bond between you two.”
Is Baby Talk Bad? A new study shows that true baby talk, made up of proper adult speech at a different cadence, is better for a baby's development than the regular baby babble we're used to. Researchers say it's better to talk to babies using proper grammar and real words at a higher pitch and a slower speed.
You may have also heard that smart children talk a lot — it's a common “gifted” trait. While early reading can point to a high probability that a child is smart, some very smart children don't talk early or talk much.
Regression, a term coined by Sigmund Freud, is a return to earlier stages of development as a defense mechanism during times of stress. Adults, as well as children, can experience regression. “It's a self-protecting mechanism,” said Sally Beville Hunter, Ph.
About 3% of younger kids (ages 8–11) and 6% of older kids (12–14) said they did not get along with mom and dad. Also, 7% of younger kids and 13% of older kids said they got along with their parents “not so well.” While many kids (69%) said they knew their parents were proud of them, some kids did not feel that way.
While the experts agree that there's no “right time” to stop using baby talk with your child, Karp says it is important to adapt your kid-speak as they age, and especially when emotions are running high.
11-Year-Old Language and Cognitive Milestones
“Cognitively, children nearing middle school mature in their abilities to think through problems, plan, and organize; they also learn to think less concretely and more flexibly about how the world works,” says Dr.
Children at this stage have entered a highly emotional space. They are just beginning to cope with hormonal changes. They're also hitting a time when peers will have the most influence on them. They want to be poised and have self-control, but they are often clumsy and in conflict.
Milestones in social development include the following: Try to establish their own identity through new attitudes, haircuts, clothing styles, hobbies, experiences, and friends. Become more independent and want to do things for themselves more. Start forming stronger, complex friendships and peer relationships.
Using this love language with a romantic partner signifies a similar feeling of safety and comfort in the relationship. "Baby talk in couples is a form of regression. It's the ability to show the silly, childlike parts of yourself that you cannot at work, among friends or other social settings.
Flirtatious baby talk
In this instance, the baby talk may be an expression of tender intimacy, and may perhaps form part of affectionate sexual roleplaying in which one partner speaks and behaves childishly, while the other acts motherly or fatherly, responding in "parentese".
Hyperlexia is advanced and unexpected reading skills and abilities in children way beyond their chronological age.