Category: Serve & Return

As you dress your child, copy the sounds you hear them make, like “ah, eee, ooo, bee, dee.” How do they respond? As you make a sound, place their fingers on your lips so they can feel the vibrations and movements of your lips. Try different sounds as you do!

Talk with your child as you move around the room, telling them, “Here I am!” Do they move their eyes? Turn or lift their head to look for you? When they find you, give them a big smile, again saying, “Here I am!”

Choose a few objects that make noise: keys, phone ringer, musical toy, etc. Show your child each object and then make the sound. Tell them the object’s name and what it does. When they respond, do another sound. Go back and forth. See which one they like best.

After a clean diaper is on, hold a small safe toy over your child’s head as they lie on their back. Make a soft noise and jiggle the toy. Do they bat at it with their hands? Try to kick it? Answer their actions with another sound and gentle jiggle.

When you’re doing the dishes, use one of the clean pots and a spoon to make a drum. Copy each other’s sounds. Go back and forth taking turns, repeating the same sounds. Build on each other’s rhythm.

When you’re grocery shopping with your child, hand them some of the items before you put them into the cart. As they check each out, tell them its name and talk about what you plan to use it for. Make sure it’s a conversation, where they’re adding their ideas!

Put your baby on their back or tummy and shake something that makes noise, like keys. Do they follow the sound with their eyes or head? What do they do when you shake fast or slow? If they do something, copy that action or sound and have a conversation without words.

Take a minute today to watch your child. Pay attention to what they look at. How do they move? What do they sound like? What are they learning? Even when you’re busy, responding to what they are learning deepens your connection with them.

Tap a rhythm with your hands and let your child do their best to copy. Try different patterns of sounds and lengths, like clapping or opening and closing your fist. Then you can take a turn to copy what they do. See how long you can go back and forth.

Place your child on their back on a blanket. Holding either side of the blanket above their head, gently lift the sides and move them up almost into a sitting position. Look into their eyes, smile, and speak to them then gently lower them back down. If they enjoyed it, do it again!