Baby Talk - For babies from birth to 1 year old
Babies love hearing your voice.
When you answer her sounds with sounds of
your own,
she begins to learn that what she "says" has meaning and is important
to you.
What To Do
Talk to your baby often. Answer her coos, gurgles, and smiles. Repeat the "ba,
ba's" and "ga, ga's" she makes. Talk, touch, and smile back. Get her to
look at you.
Play simple talking and touching games with your baby. Ask, "Where's your
nose?" Then touch her nose and say playfully, "There's your nose!" Do this
several times, then switch to an ear or knee or her tummy. Stop when she or you grow tired
of the game.
Change the game by touching the nose or ear and repeating the word for it several
times. Do this with objects, too. When she hears you name something over and over again,
she begins to connect the sound with what it means.
Do things that interest your baby. Vary your tone of voice, make funny faces, sing
lullabies, and recite simple nursery rhymes. Play "peek-a-boo" and
"pat-a-cake."
Parent Pointer
It's so important to talk to your baby! With your help, her
coos and gurgles will one day give way to words.
Visit "Books/Children's Illustrated"
Books and Babies
For babies from age 6 weeks to 1 year
Sharing books is a way to have fun with your baby and start him on the road to becoming
a reader.
Try To Find
Cardboard or cloth books with large, simple pictures of things that babies are familiar with.
Lift-the-flap, touch-and-feel, or peek-through play books (Example: Pat the Bunny
by Dorothy Kunhardt is a classic touch-and-feel book. See
Picture Books
What To Do
Read to your baby for short periods several times a day. Bedtime is always a good
time, but you can do it at other times, too while in the park, on the bus, or even at the
breakfast table (without the food!).
As you read, point out things that are fun to do in the pictures. Name them as you
point to them.
Give your baby sturdy books to look at, touch, and hold. Allow him to peek through the
holes or lift the flaps to discover surprises.
Baby Board Books
/
Baby Flip Books
/
Children's Books
Babies soon recognize the faces and voices of those who care for them. As you read to
your baby, he will form a link between books and what he loves most your voice and
closeness.
