You Say… I Say
At this age, your baby is likely beginning to babble and produce a variety of sounds. To build on this stage of language development, encourage your child to echo you as you make some of his most commonly produced sounds.
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Who Needs? You Need!
When we talk to babies, we instinctively exaggerate words, slow down and elevate the pitch of words. In this way, we can help babies distinguish between different sounds or syllables in words and even identify where one word ends and the next word begins.
You Are Too Funny!
The noises that your baby is making at this stage are his attempts at speaking real words. Sometimes, the sounds give you a laugh! Well, let your baby know that you enjoyed his “joke” and that you want him to keep making more sounds, babbles and coos.
It’s Part of the Routine!
At this stage, you are getting your baby used to a series of routines. Reading about and talking about routines help to make them part of your baby’s life.
Delicious Dish
Mealtime is a great time to strike up a conversation with your baby. Explore the five senses as you feed your baby at mealtime.
What Am I Doing?
Your baby can’t get enough of listening to you talk! Your baby is familiar with and focused on your voice, its tone and its cadence. You can stimulate your baby’s oral language abilities by just talking to her…about anything!
Sing It, Baby!
Young infants are sensitive to the different sounds of speech. This is one reason babies enjoy songs, rhymes and chants. Since your child is producing a variety of sounds, you can begin to connect these sounds to the songs/chants that she already enjoys!
Soothing Singing
Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a good singer, your baby loves the sound of your voice. Humming and singing to your baby soothes him and gives you some happy bonding time.
Keep It Real
Toward the end of the first six months, your infant will begin to experiment with her mouth, tongue and throat and make more sounds. You can react to the sounds your child is making and turn it into a back-and-forth conversation!
