Language and Learning

During their first year, babies explore and learn about objects by mouthing, looking, and feeling.

Around the first birthday, babies make an important discovery. They realize that things still exist even when they are not right there (This is called object permanence). A baby might search for his bottle under his blanket because he remembers there is a bottle!
Once objects stay in memory like this, words become important tools. Everything has a name.
One of the first questions that babies ask, with words, gestures, or facial expression, seems to be: "What's that?"
Babies learn the names for things fast. Parents help babies by looking at what baby is looking at and using the name for it. This is called joint attention – you both tune in on the same thing. Joint attention helps babies learn words.

Here is a nice example of joint attention. The toddler and parents are all looking at and talking about the dog in the bath!
When we give the name of something the child is already interested in and looking at, it helps the child make a connection from the thing to the word.

Get on the child's level.

You want to be close to your baby and at eye level, so that both of you can attend to the object and listen to the word.
If you are encouraging your baby to watch your face, then move your face close to the object before you speak.

It is best to tune into your baby's attention.
Babies easily become fascinated with whatever they are exploring.
They typically do not want to stop at look at something the adult wants to talk about.
Watch what holds your baby's interest and talk about those things and their actions.
Follow the baby's lead and give words to match baby's interest.

Here are some practice examples. There are many things you could say...this gives a few ideas for getting started.

	Child's Actions	We can say and/or sign...
Teddy Bear	Baby wakes up and looks at the bear	"There's Teddy Bear."
	Baby grabs bear.	a. "Hug Teddy Bear." b. "You love your bear."
	Baby spills milk on the table.	a. "Teddy Bear is wet." (sniff the bear) b. "Your bear smells like milk!"
Shoes	Baby grabs own shoe.	"There's your shoe!"
	Baby struggles to get it off.	"You want your shoe off? Pull!"
	Shoe comes off.	a. "You got your shoe off!" b. "Do you want your other shoe off too?"
Peaches at lunch	Baby takes a bite. Possible responses:	a. "Mmmm. Peaches are good." b. "You like peaches." c. "You eat peaches. Yummy."
	Baby opens mouth for more. Possible responses:	a. "More peaches." b. "Oh, another bite of peaches." c. "Here come the peaches. You want more."
	Baby turns head away. Possible responses:	a. "No more peaches?" b. "One more bite, please. Peaches are good." c. "Done with peaches? Okay."