Talk, Sing, and Point

Talk a Lot
Talk to your baby from the time they are born during activities like changing, feeding, bathing, and errands. Describe what you are doing.

Use a Playful Voice
Smile and look into your baby's eyes. Talk with a gentle, playful voice. Exaggerate the sounds of the words. This may feel silly at first, but it is actually very important. Babies pay more attention and learn more when you talk this way.

Follow Their Interests
Talk about the things your baby looks at or reaches for. Notice which ways of talking or singing seem to interest them the most.

Go Back and Forth
When your baby makes a sound, show excitement on your face and in your voice. Respond with words. See how long you can keep the “conversation” going back and forth between the two of you.

Use Real Words
Don’t just use “baby talk,” also use real words. The more words your baby hears, the larger their vocabulary will grow. Think of words as nourishment for your baby’s brain!

Sing
Sing songs to your baby. This is a fun way for them to learn language. You might have certain songs for special times of the day, like bath time or before bedtime. Your baby might especially like songs that repeat words or have rhyming sounds.

Point to Objects
Point to objects and name them—especially the things that seem to interest your baby.

Use any Language
It doesn’t matter what language you speak with your infant. All languages are equally beneficial.

Describe Life
Talk about the things you’re doing and what is going on around you. Have conversations as you walk around the neighborhood or do errands.

Be Specific 
The more specific you can be with words, the more your child will learn. For example, instead of saying “Let’s go,” you could say, “Let’s go shopping at the grocery store to buy some food.”

Use Your Hands
When you talk about something, point to it. This helps your child understand what you mean. Encourage your child to point too. “Can you point to the triangle?” This will help them connect new words to the objects they represent.

Add Ideas
Help grow your child’s vocabulary by expanding on what he says. For example, if he says “doggie,” you can respond with, “Yes, that is a doggie. That doggie is brown and soft.”

Listen and Respond
Listen to your toddler’s questions and answer them. Have a conversation. This is when the most powerful learning takes place.

Ask Questions
Get your toddler thinking. Have them explain what they are doing or what they think is going to happen. You may get some funny answers!

Sing and Recite
Sing songs and recite nursery rhymes. Choose ones you remember from your own childhood, read in books, or make up new ones.

Use Any Language
It doesn’t matter what language you speak with your infant. All languages are equally beneficial.