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. |
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 Resources.)
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. |
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. |