A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

• Cry, make other sounds, and move their bodies.

• Listen and respond to the sounds and voices around them.

• Coo, gurgle, laugh, and babble to themselves and others.

• Enjoy listening to stories.

• Smile when people smile at them.

• Respond to their names.

• Take turns while singing and playing with another person.

• Pick up objects with their fingers and thumbs.

• Move objects from one hand to the other.

HOW DO YOUNG BABIES LEARN?

Katie is in the bathtub splashing in the water with both hands. Her father sits on the floor next to the tub making sure she is safe. "Katie, Katie," he says as he picks up a washcloth. "Are you ready to play our special game?"

Katie looks up and sees her father's smiling face. She smiles at him and laughs. He says, "Let's play Peek-a-Boo,"; and puts a washcloth in front of his face. Katie reaches out and pats the top of his head. Her father says, "Peek-a-Boo, Katie, I can't see you." He lowers the washcloth so his eyes are no longer covered. Katie squeals with delight. He covers his eyes again and says, "Peek-a-Boo, Katie, I still can't see you."

Katie's father holds the washcloth out toward her, saying, "Your turn, Katie." She takes the washcloth from his hand and puts it in front of her face. Her father says, "Where's Katie?"

Katie drops the washcloth in the water and splashes with her hands. She babbles to her father, "Dadadada. Babababa." He says, "I think you're saying that you're tired of playing Peek-a-Boo. Let's play with your sponges."

Like many young babies, Katie is learning about language She knows that it's fun to play with another person. She looks up when her father says her name. She smiles when her father smiles at her.

Katie's father helps her learn about language: He talks with her during a daily activity--bathtime. He says her name again and again so that she will learn to recognize it. He takes several turns in their game and then encourages her to take a turn. He responds to her babbles as if he knows what she is saying.

ACTIVITIES AND IDEAS FOR YOUNG BABIES

AGE YOUNG BABIES: BIRTH TO 8 MONTHS OLD

ACTIVITIES Listening and Talking Young babies enjoy being with other people. Spend individual time talking with and responding to every baby many times during every day. Let babies know that you think that each one is special and fun to be with. Learn to recognize the meaning of each baby's special cries and gestures. Organize your day so that you can quickly respond to babies' cries and provide what they seem to need--a dry diaper, a hug, a warm bottle. Introduce babies to taking turns, as they will do when they are older and begin talking with other people. Respond to their sounds and actions by smiling, making noises, or waving a stuffed animal in front of them. Play simple Peek-a-Boo games and sing songs. At first you will take many more turns than the babies do. As they get older, babies will take more turns by making happy noises and wiggling their bodies. How to help families: Always think of families as your partners in helping babies grow and learn. Keep families up-to-date on what their babies do at child care. Young babies coo and babble to themselves and others. Sing, coo, babble, smile, and laugh with babies during diapering, feeding, and play times. Let them know you notice them cooing and babbling to themselves. Respond to their sounds and actions. "You touched my nose, Carlos. Now I'm going to touch your nose." Use your voice to make the sounds most babies love best--talking, singing, and laughing. Sing and recite your own favorite songs and rhymes, and reserve a special song or rhyme for each baby. Ask families to teach you the rhymes and traditional games their babies enjoy at home. Learn a few important words in the babies' home languages so you can comfort them as their families do. Young babies listen to the sounds and voices around them. Point out the sounds babies hear indoors and outdoors. "That was Inez banging the spoons together." "A train just went by." Play different kinds of music and move with babies. Respond to the music's rhythm and beat. Sway gently, turn in circles, move the baby's arms and legs, or clap hands together. Talk about what you are doing. Use babies' names when talking with them so that they will learn to recognize and respond to their own names. "Good morning, Kevin." Give simple directions to babies by using words and gestures, and by varying the expression on your face. For example, a caregiver smiles and holds out her hand while saying, "Kendra, give me the bottle, please." When Kendra holds out the bottle, the caregiver takes it from her and says, "Thank you, Kendra. Let's put the bottle away now." Reading Young babies like feeling close to special people such as their caregivers. Make books part of your one-on-one times with babies. Hold babies in your lap while reading to them. Although they don't understand exactly what you are saying, babies love being close to you and listening to your voice. Over time, babies will associate these pleasant feelings with books and reading. Respond to what babies want to do during reading times. Babies may grasp a cloth or plastic book and put it in their mouth. This is how they find out about books. Be sure to wash the book later, so that germs aren't passed from one baby to another. If a baby wiggles and squirms, stop reading; the baby is telling you it's time to do something else. Point at pictures in books and name them. Encourage babies when they point at pictures on their own. "James, show me the ball. That's right. That's the ball." Let babies try to turn the pages by themselves. How to help families: Encourage families to read to their babies at home. Tell them what their baby says and does when you read together at child care. Explain that many babies who are read to learn to love reading. Reading reminds children of the pleasant times they spent looking at books with a caring adult. Young babies can explore books on their own. Display books with other toys where babies can reach them on their own. For example, place books on the blanket or carpeted area where babies play. Look for books with simple, bright pictures against a solid background. Cloth and plastic books work well because they can be washed. Cardboard books are good for babies who are learning to turn pages. Make a set of picture cards for the babies in your care. Look for simple pictures of familiar objects in magazines or catalogs. For example, a puppy, a sneaker, or a flower. Paste each picture on a piece of cardboard and cover with clear adhesive paper. Keep the pictures in an open container such as a plastic dishpan. Sit with babies and talk about the pictures. Developing Muscles For Writing Young babies use their hands, fingers, and senses to learn. Offer a variety of safe play materials that babies can hold, shake, push, pull, lift, and hit. Babies tend to put everything in their mouths. Make sure their toys and play materials are washable and too large to be swallowed. Babies often like household items just as much as expensive toys. Babies can use a set of plastic measuring cups in many ways. An assortment of textured fabrics give babies something to touch; you can talk about how each type of fabric feels. Simple homemade toys also are fun for babies. Make cloth balls and sock puppets they can grasp and put in their mouths. How to help families: Show families how to make safe play materials for babies with things they have at home. For example, they could make sock puppets, mobiles, or a textured blanket. Young babies are learning to do things for themselves. Let babies pat, touch, then grasp their own bottles while you hold them. Babies can hold a diaper, pull off their socks, and raise their arms for you to remove a shirt. Show your excitement when a baby develops enough eye-hand coordination to reach out and grab something. "Emily, look at the mobile. You made it move. Can you make it move again?" Keep track of each baby's new skills so that you will know when to make changes to keep the baby safe. For example, when babies can grasp and pull on the mobile over the changing table, you will have to raise it and offer new toys that are safe.

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[Tips for Caregivers for Language Learning]

[Enjoying Our Company: Activities for Crawlers and Walkers]