Why Talk To Babies

Why Talk To Babies?

• Before babies can talk they have a lot to learn:
  • They learn that a word has a meaning.
  • A word is made of sounds.
  • Sounds are made with the mouth.
  • The way you hold your mouth, teeth and tongue affect the sounds you make.
  • Babies have to put all this together to make a sound someone will understand!
• Words are our way of telling people what we want and need. The more words your child has, the less need there will be to cry, shout and squeal. It is frustrating not to be able to express feelings.
• Babies usually understand more than they can say.
• Words help children communicate and share activities with other people. They help us share thoughts and ideas.
• At first babies only understand the tone of your voice and the feeling it gives them. Soon they understand words like 'mum', 'dad', 'hug', 'no!', 'yes'.
• You can help your baby learn to talk by:
  • playing sound games; for example say 'Bah!' when your baby says 'Bah!'
  • pretending to understand what your baby is trying to say; for example when baby says 'Bah!' you might ask 'Blanket? Do you want your blanket?'
  • playing simple games like peek a boo, which babies love, where you cover your face with your hands, then drop them and say 'Boo!'
  • touching and naming body parts - 'baby's mouth, mummy's mouth', 'baby's nose', mummy's nose'
  • using baby's name in all kinds of activities
  • talking about what you are doing with and for your baby
  • having 'conversations' where you take turns to make sounds
  • singing songs and saying nursery rhymes.

Parenting tips & parenting articles copyright & courtesy
Department for Community Devlp, Australia.

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