Why Bother Talking to Babies
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011Why bother talking to babies when they can’t understand you anyway? Whether you are a parent, sibling, nanny or babysitter, or any other kind of caregiver, you should not feel silly or embarrassed talking to infants and babies. They love the attention and are slowly learning language from you. If you are making lunch with baby nearby, just talk about what you are doing. Tell him what kind of bread you are using and why it is healthy or why you like it. If you are thinking about what you will be doing while the baby naps, think out loud. Let him know that while he sleeps you plan to curl up on the sofa and relax with your favorite book. Even if you can’t think of anything to say, sing a little song or nursery rhyme.
While it is hard to resist mimicking a toddler’s mispronounced words, try to refrain from repeating them incorrectly on purpose. The baby is learning from you all the time; if you mispronounce words, so will he. The more you talk to the baby, the faster he will understand and learn to speak himself. Save the silence for sleep time! Chatter away to your baby or the baby you are caring for and help him to understand you and the world around him.
Lisa McLellan, The Babysitting Lady, Child Care Expert