The Green Parent

By The Green Parent

01st October 2020

Of all the many benefits babywearing brings to you and your child, nurturing their literacy skills might not be the first one that springs to mind says Sophie Lovett

The Green Parent

By The Green Parent

01st October 2020

The Green Parent

By The Green Parent

01st October 2020

IT IS SUCH A CENTRAL PART OF our children’s development: from very early on communication is key to being able to meet their needs, and it is not long before we are bombarded with opportunities to formalise this early years’ learning. Childcare settings promote phonics-based activities; specialist books, toys and games look to bring this literacy learning into the home.

And it’s easy to understand why as parents we are keen to do everything we can to give our children a head start in this area – not just so they can communicate effectively, but also so that they will not flounder when faced with the increasingly challenging demands of school.

WORLD OF PLAY

But what if a formal approach is not the only way to go? It certainly never sat comfortably with me. After my first son was born, even though (or perhaps because) my background as an English teacher made me acutely aware of the importance of confident communication, I was not convinced that constraining my baby’s blooming understanding of the world of words by trying to squeeze it into the limitations of structured activities was right for us. Instead play was paramount, and as much as we could we experienced the world together, Arthur held close in the baby carrier as we set off on adventures.

And soon I came to realise that the simple act of babywearing was one of the very best ways to develop my child’s literacy, laying the foundations of effective communication and letting him get up close to all the nuances of how adults talk (and listen) to each other.

I remember thinking as we wandered around town how different his experience would have been if he were strapped in a pram – how isolated he would have felt, and how far removed from the myriad of everyday exchanges I engaged in.

BUILDING COMMUNICATION

A child’s ability to communicate begins long before they are able to speak. Every single interaction a baby has in their first few weeks and months of life starts to build their literacy and communication skills, and the rate at which babies and toddlers can develop an understanding of language – both words and non-verbal cues – is really quite staggering. But in order for them to learn they have to be able to watch and listen – both when people are communicating with them, and when people are communicating with each other.

FACE TO FACE

Research scientist Dr Suzanne Zeedyk carried out a really fascinating study into the impact of parent-facing and forward-facing prams on language development. Her hypothesis – borne out by the research – was that the direction a pushchair faces has a significant impact on how much parents interact with their baby. In fact, babies in parentfacing prams experience double the amount of conversation. Taking this further, her findings also showed that children were twice as likely again to be talked to if they were carried rather than in a pushchair.

I’m sure that is something that all of us who enjoy babywearing can relate to – I know for me one of the most delightful things about keeping my first baby so close (and continuing to do so as he became a toddler and beyond) was the nearconstant interaction, and it is something I particularly cherish now with my second child. Dr Zeedyk explains, “Slings keep a baby close to a parent’s body, and thus in constant reassurance. This is why many parents choose to use them. Giving slings away to families living in ‘vulnerable circumstances’ would probably make a great health intervention.” The National Literacy Trust, who commissioned this research, explain why this early communication is so important, “Babies and young children reach out for interaction through babbling, facial expressions and gestures. If they do not get a response, or the response is inappropriate, then the brain’s architecture does not form as expected.”

MEETING CHALLENGES

It can of course be exhausting trying to keep up with a young child’s need for communication, but there is something empowering about knowing how important that interaction is which strengthens my resolve to power through the sleep deprivation and keep the conversation going. It is certainly a whole lot harder to opt out when that little voice is coming from the proximity of a baby carrier, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing! It’s not just the actual conversation that’s so powerful either. Early years educator, Alana Robinson, elaborates on the particular benefits babywearing can bring for language development. She says, “When you wear your baby, they are generally right at your mouth level. This allows your baby to hear every word you speak. Not only can they hear your words, but they can feel the vibrations in your body, see the shapes you make with your lips, and how you use your tongue. They hear the emphasis you put on certain words and the tone of voice you use, and feel how you react to the words being said.”

DEVELOPING LANGUAGE

It is worth remembering that the first three years in a child’s life are the most important for language development, with the foundations being laid that will help them grow into effective communicators. The National Literacy Trust explains further that, “Neuroscience has revealed that the synapses in a child’s brain multiply 20-fold between birth and three years of age, a rate that is faster than at any other time of life.” It really is quite amazing when you stop and think about it. But a little bit daunting too! I have moments now when I look at my 20 month old and am acutely aware of the massive responsibility I have for providing the stimuli he needs to reach his potential.

He is not in any childcare, and likely won’t be for a while. Since our early scepticism of overly formal education with our eldest we have embraced home education, leaning towards unschooling as the approach which best fits our family. And babywearing is an integral part of that – not just for the adventures it allows us to go on, but for the closeness and communication it fosters too. I can hear the inflections in my toddler’s blossoming voice that he has picked up from me – they are sometimes strangely adult coming from his tiny body, but he takes great pleasure in his ability to express himself and respond to people around him. When we are out and about he delights in charming the people we meet. Often I will be distracted from my conversation by a giggle, only to realise that he is busy chatting away to someone else nearby, or dazzling them with his smile.

Other times I am just grateful for his company, as he nods his agreement to a thought I’m mulling over or points excitedly at something he’s spotted nearby, leaning in for a cuddle before craning round to catch his brother’s eye. It is all pretty awesome: and that fact that its boosting his language development too is a very welcome bonus.

Sophie lives in Devon with her family. A seasoned babywearer and home educator, she writes about parenting at raisingrevolutionaries.co.uk.

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