Think of some questions that you have about language development in infants and write them down. How do you think babies learn to talk and understand? What are the ways they have to communicate? What do you think helps them learn language?

Take a moment to compare your own responses to the things said by the people in the program. Is there anything you would have added to the discussion? Is there anything they said that surprised you? What do you think of their strategies? What do you do to help infants learn language?

Main Points:

• Babbling is early conversation
• At about 7 months, babies start making sequences of sounds that are intended to communicate a message

Strategies:

• Coo back when a baby coos or babbles
• Describe pictures in books (not just reading the text in the book)
• Name & describe things that children can touch, smell, handle
• Talk to children during routines like diaper changing
• Ask children to use words when they want something
• Sing to and with your child

As you watch, look for things that the child care provider does that you would find helpful. What do you expect to see?

Consider what you do with your children. How are your practices the same as what you saw? How are they different? How can you adjust your practices? What are moments during your day when you could have a conversation with your infant or toddler? What could you talk about?

Main Points:

• Babies need to hear language, make sounds and get responses
• Talk, sing, and read to your baby every day
• Narrate what you do during the day and label your child's activities

Inclusion Strategies:

• Ask questions like, "What's this?" "What do you see?"
• "Sportscast" - provide a play-by-play of what is happening (describe the little details of life)
• Repeat and affirm what a child says
• Answer questions with FULL sentences
• "Chain" words - Add a new word after a child repeats the first word (e.g., child repeats "stick" and you say "It is a BROWN stick")
• Use words from more than one language; (Note, some language switching is fine, but constantly switching from one language to another is not an optimal strategy for fostering bi-lingual development. Each adult should mostly use the language that comes naturally to them.)
• Read aloud
• Collect synonyms and adjectives to use as part of your language building "toolbox"
• Include as much conversation and language in a child's day as possible; As the specialist in the program said, we don't teach language, we model language

How does the way you communicate with an infant change when you are communicating with a toddler? What are good practices for narrating events or activities?

Take a moment to compare your own responses to the things said by the people in the program. Is there anything you would have added to the discussion? Is there anything they said that surprised you? What do you think of their strategies? What do you do to support language development?

Main Points:

• We model language
• It is very important to listen and understand that children are listening and understanding even if they don't use the same words
• Babies need to hear language, make sounds and get responses

Strategies:

• Chain your words to add vocabulary
• Talk, sing and read to your baby every day
• Narrate what you do and label your child's activities
• Immerse children in a culture of language - practice talking
• Adjust your language to what your child can understand

Here's your chance to think about how to apply what you have learned. What would you need to do this activity yourself? What are the important parts? What are children learning?

How did the activity compare with your expectations? What did the children learn? How might you adjust this activity for the children in your care? How might you work it into your own routine?

Benefits for Children:

• Invites children to make sounds and talk
• Teaches that different sizes and shapes change your voice in different ways (cause & effect)