Language and Learning
Use Words to Match Your Baby's Interests
Now that you have become an expert conversational partner and a mind reader, it is time to become a tour guide. You are the one who has the words to match your baby's interests and curiosity.
- You respond and add information.
- You know where the important, exciting objects, actions and problems are, and you know how to communicate about them.
- When you play with your baby, you can point out these ideas. This is called parallel talk.
| Actions or Problems | What Mom Says or Signs | |
|---|---|---|
 | Can't find the stick in the bubble bottle. | "Where is it?" "Eww! Sticky!" "There's the stick." |
| Get ready to blow! | "Ready?" "Blow!" | |
| See bubbles everywhere, floating and popping. | "Up, up." "Pop, pop, pop!" "All gone." | |
| Feel wet circles everywhere. | "Wet table. Feels wet." |
Practice Examples
Look at the baby in each picture. Think about what responses might stretch or expand the baby's idea. Look on the right to see some examples of parallel talk. These comments could expand the idea while sharing the baby's interest and attention.
| Baby's Action | Possible Responses |
|---|---|
Yum | "Yum!" "Mmmm...good." |
You like cereal | "You like cereal." "In your mouth!" |
More cereal | "More cereal?" "Find more for mommy." |