When to begin “the talk”? The answer is…..during pregnancy. The expectant mother is the first “talker”, the one to model language and carry on daily one-way conversations. Talking or verbal speech is just part of the communication process that is first delivered by a baby’s parents.

“The mother has first dibs on influencing the child’s brain. The vowel sounds in her speech are the loudest units and the fetus locks onto them.” stated Dr. Patricia Kuhl co-author and co-director of the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences at the University of Washington.

Talking to a new baby throughout the day creates the foundation for their language development. How the words are spoken to the listener is important. The tone, pitch and speed of one’s voice will enhance the experience. Many additional factors play an essential role in the language learning exchange for a baby:

Language is interactive. Talking to an infant at first may seem like a one-way street—but it’s not! The baby is internalizing these social talks. Soon regular back-and-forth communications will appear in the form of giggles, wiggles and babbling. Watch and listen closely as a baby makes sounds and movements. These are their requests for a parent to respond to them. The give and take of communicating has started, it’s the prelinguistic stage. The baby brain is at work processing and producing the beginnings of language. Continuous talking time supports a baby’s understanding of their world and will lead to their vocalization of real words. A young child’s expressive vocabulary will assist them later-on when it’s time to read printed text. Language development is essential for early literacy learning.

Yep, at the start talking time may seem one directional that’s for sure since actual words are not being exchanged. —- Just know there’s a huge WANT and willingness to learn how to communicate stirring inside the baby brain!

Happy days to you,

Kylene

Resources & References

Healy, Jane Dr., (2004), Your Child’s Growing Mind: Brain Development and Learning From Birth to Adolescence, 3rd Edition, Chapter 2 Intelligent Beginnings, Harmony Publisher

Hirsh-Pasek, Kathryn, PhD, Simms/Mann Institute, (2018), Kuhl, Patricia, PhD : Infants & Communication, Interview https://youtu.be/dEGYYKofbhw

McElroy, Molly, journalist University Washington News, (2013), While in Womb, Babies Begin Learning Language from their Mothers, http://www.washington.edu/news/2013/01/02/while-in-womb-babies-begin-learning-language-from-their-mothers/

The post “The Talk” Begins appeared first on Early Literacy Learning.

An unborn baby begins to absorb sounds prior to birth. A baby in the womb hears conversations, music, household noises and direct talk from mom, dad and other family members. These outside sounds are competing with her internal body noises: a beating heart, a growling stomach, and rushing blood.

Mom talking softly to her tummy bump will help create a lasting bond. After the birth, a mother’s voice will be recognizable due to all the prior directed talk. This helps the newborn to feel safe and secure in their new environment.

Even though one may be unsure if the tummy talk is being heard, just know there is a listener curled up inside who appreciates the talk. Delivering on going talk sets the stage for a welcoming birth, loving connections and MORE!

Research has shown that hearing familiar voices in the womb does contribute to a baby’s future language development. Utako Minai, an associate professor in the Department of Linguistics at University of Kansas Medical Center stated that, “ Fetuses are tuning their ears to the language they are going to acquire even before they are born, based on the speech signals available to them in utero. Pre-natal sensitivity to the rhythmic properties of language may provide children with of the first building blocks in acquiring language.”

The best thing is there is no need to worry about what to talk about since any topic will be the right one. It’s all about the warmth of one’s voice and the deep heart connection that’s being communicated.

Happy days to you,

Kylene

Resources & References

Gross, Gail, Ph.D., (2022), How Your Baby Learns Language in the Womb, Phonetic learning in utero, Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/strategies-living/202209/how-your-baby-learns-language-in-the-womb

Hellman, Rick, (2017), Language Development Starts in the Womb, Neuroscience News, https://neurosciencenews.com/language-development-womb-7106/

Trafton, Anne, (2022), Early sound exposure in the womb shapes the auditory system, MIT- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, https://news.mit.edu/2022/prenatal-sound-womb-auditory-system-0525

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What is the ‘talking dance’? It’s the interaction between the parent and child as communication connections are developing. The parent and baby are partners, joined together in practicing a variety of steps for language learning. The parent-teacher is the responder who models, guides and cheers on the learner. The newborn is involved with the talking dance — first as a watcher and listener. It won’t be long before the young baby will start the back-and-forth exchanges of movements and sounds. It’s a social time filled with learning and excitement. Dance away!

“Serve & Return” – The Dance

“Serve and Return” opportunities may occur during any talking time with a baby. It’s a shared experience, done together facing each other. The baby may be on its back or in one’s arms or later-on sitting up while enjoying the full attention of their parent. The “ Serve and Return” dance steps are easy to learn, let’s begin!

The baby-serves an action using – eye contact, facial expressions, body movements, gestures or sounds. The baby wants to receive a response-a return from the parent. The returner-parent acknowledges the serve in a variety of ways, such as, a joyful expression-smile, copying their verbal sound, body touch-hug and/or saying words. Taking turns, pausing to wait for each response is important. But how to respond will depend on the age of the baby and the focus of talking time. For instance, in the first months, non-verbal serves are to be expected followed later by beginning cooing sounds.

Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University wrote in 5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve and Return the following: “Supporting and encouraging rewards a child’s interests and curiosity. Never getting a return can actually be stressful for a child. When you return a serve, children know that their thoughts and feelings are heard and understood.”

It’s important to note that researchers have found that a young baby first watches the eyes of the talker, until they’re around six months old. Once the babbling stage begins, there’s a shift in their focus. Their attention now goes to the speaker’s mouth. The need to learn how to form speech sounds leads them to use a form of lip reading. Developmental psychologist Dr. David J. Lewkowicz, stated after an extensive study “the baby in order to imitate you has to figure out how to shape their lips to make that particular sound they’re hearing. It’s an incredibly complex process.” Later, most one year-olds will go back to using direct-eye contact during talking time. Their talking skills are beginning to bust out—real words are starting to be expressed and the need to lip read has lessened or disappeared.

“Serve & Return” creates a back-and-forth dance, these two-way interactions are important for a baby’s brain development. It helps to increase and strengthen neural connections for learning, communication and social/emotional skills. It’s exciting to realize that “Serve & Return” is a successful talking time concept to be used with infants, babies, toddlers AND children of all ages! Keep on dancing!!!

What’s remarkable about “Serve & Return” is that it can be done throughout the day anywhere. A life filled with talking time will create a loving bond and enhance language growth!

Happy days to you,

Kylene

Resources & References

CBC News, (2012), Babies read lips while learning to talk, Health, Associated Press https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/babies-read-lips-while-learning-to-talk-1.1144481

Center on Developing Child, Five Steps for Brain Building Serve and Return, learning to talk, Harvard University, https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/5-steps-for-brain-building-serve-and-return/

Institute For Learning & Brain Sciences, (2023), I-LABS researchers have discovered a connection between conversational turn taking with infants, and their brain maturation related to language development, University of Washington, Publication, Research, https://ilabs.uw.edu/i-labs-news/i-labs-researchers-have-discovered-a-connection-between-conversational-turn-taking-with-infants-and-their-brain-maturation-related-to-language-development/

Lewkowicz, David J., & Hansen-Tift, Amy M., (2012), Infants deploy selective attention to the mouth of a talking face when learning speech, Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, PNAS, Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1114783109

The post The Talking Dance: “Serve & Return” appeared first on Early Literacy Learning.

One important strategy to use when creating a language partnership is called “parentese” or infant-directed speech (IDS). “Parentese” is used more frequently and replaces the word “motherese”. This language style is a highly recommended way for parents to speak to babies throughout their first year.

Parents speaking “parentese” use an engaging voice, that is high pitched and with a slower rhythm. It has a happy sing-songy bounce to it. Dr. Patricia Kohl a well-known scientist who researches early language and brain development stated, “We know from over 30 years of research in the lab that infants prefer “parentese” over standard speech and that infants who are exposed to more “parentese” at home have larger vocabularies as toddlers.” As the child begins to use one-or-two-word statements, there’s no longer a need to talk in this manner.

“Parentese” does somewhat sound like the familiar “baby talk” EXCEPT one doesn’t use irregular sounds or nonsense words. “Parentese” from the very start uses real words and correct grammar. This method stretches out the vowels when speaking to the baby, making the articulated words clearer. “Parentese” strengthens and expands a baby’s language development.

Dr. Naja Ferjan Ramirez a linguistics and cognitive science professor from University of Washington, stated. about “parentese”, “It has a slower tempo, so it helps a baby find where the boundaries between the words are because typically in fast speech words run into one another … and that might be one of the reasons why it helps them learn words. The higher pitch captures their attention, and then the exaggerated vowels help children figure out what the vowels of their language are.”

As talking time begins– make it an inviting experience for the baby. Just change one’s normal speaking voice to “parentese” by using three key elements:

The role of a parent is that of a major depositor in the First Bank of Language. Their spoken words are being banked for later profit. The speaker or talker provides the listener-baby with WORDS, a daily investment that increases their vocabulary. The listener is taking in these sounds and trying to make sense of the words it hears. These ongoing “parentese” interactions between the talker and listener are the first steps in communication, this exchange models the importance of words. It is the beginning of laying the foundation for their future literacy fortune. All of a child’s talking time experiences are assets that contribute to creating a “rich” language environment. You can bank on it!

The talking time spent using “parentese” pays off and is rewarding for all. It’s an investment in a baby’s future language success. Have fun banking all those words together!

Happy days to you,

Kylene

Resources & References

Eckart, Kim, reporter, (2018), Parents learn, babies talk: How coaching moms and dads leads to better language skills among infants, University of Washington University, News Release, https://www.washington.edu/news/2018/11/26/parents-learn-babies-talk-how-coaching-moms-and-dads-leads-to-better-language-skills-among-infants

Earth Lab, (2019), Parentese ? Babies: Their Wonderful World, BBC Earth Science, https://youtu.be/wA0KoMk3ulQ?si=4irXTkKMzsk_XrWF

I-LABS Outreach, (2020), Parentese; 3 months, in the Early Years, https://modules.ilabs.uw.edu/video-library/

Ramirez, Naja Ferjan, Lytle, Sarah Roseberry, Kuhl, Patricia K., (2019) Parent coaching increases conversational turns and advances infant language development, Department of Linguistics, University of Washington, PNAS, Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1921653117

Ross, David & MyNorthwest Staff, (2020), UW study: Parentese most effective method for teaching toddlers language, KIRO Newsradio, https://mynorthwest.com/2074786/parantese-uw-language-toddlers/

The post Talking “Parentese” appeared first on Early Literacy Learning.

Talking time using “Parentese” with “Serve & Return” creates beginning baby conversations for language development. Keep in mind that infants don’t really have an understanding of what they’re saying with their cooing or babbling —they just want to be connected and “in the conversation”.

During the Parentese with ”Serve & Return” the baby brain is working hard to process each experience. The brain is learning about language development, true. However, the brain also thrives on receiving social/emotional support during talking time! Parents have multiple roles during these engaging interactions:

Talking time may be very short or longer in length, depending on the baby’s age and attention span. This joint activity helps to form a strong relationship between the baby and parent. It sends the message verbally and non-verbally that they are important while building trust. These meaningful interactions increase their language learning while deepening social/emotional and cognitive connections. A First Things First article stated “A young child’s daily experiences determine which brain connections develop and which will last for a lifetime. The amount and quality of care, stimulation and interaction they receive in their early years makes all the difference.”

Talking Time

Interactions

Talking time is always available, morning, noon or night! It’s free, with an unlimited supply and guaranteed to bring incredible joy!

Happy days to you,

Kylene

Resources & References

First Things First, Why Early Childhood Matters, Brain Development,
https://www.firstthingsfirst.org/early-childhood-matters/brain-development

Rapport, Lisa, Reuters Health, (2018), ’Back-and-forth’ conversations with young kids may aid brain development, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-childhood-language/back-and-forth-conversations-with-young-kids-may-aid-brain-development-idUSKBN1KY28O

Zero to Three, (2022), Let’s Talk About It: 5 Ways to Build Babies’ Language and Communication Skills from Birth, https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/lets-talk-about-it-5-ways-to-build-babies-language-and-communication-skills-from-birth/

The post “Parentese” with “Serve & Return” appeared first on Early Literacy Learning.

Vocabulary & Concept Boosters with BONDING

There are multiple ways to interact with a baby to increase their vocabulary and ready them to speak. Here are just a few talking time brain gain activities which will stimulate language learning and enhance closeness. Each activity may be adapted to meet a baby’s learning needs. The amount of time to spend or additional vocabulary to select are all to be considered, along with the age of the baby before choosing an activity.

The baby laughs when doing Peek-A-Boo With You, around the age of 4 months. Why? “First, it’s the personal interaction: It’s rewarding. But second, the baby is mastering the concept of things disappearing and coming back and knowing that they still exist.” stated, Jack P Shonkoff, M D, Professor of Child Development, Harvard.

Expand the GIVE IT A NAME activity by adding additional words to describe the object.
Even if they’re not talking yet, the baby brain has a want to understand and increase its vocabulary.

Try to use the exact words each time when repeating the same talking time activity on a different day. This will help facilitate the brains’ vocabulary development, repetition creates stronger pathways for learning in the baby brain. For example, holding up a blue blanket and calling it a “ blue blanket”, while on another day using same blue blanket and calling it a “blue blanky” – equals confusion galore! Consistency is important when helping the baby brain connect meaning to spoken words.

Parents creating fun moments for language learning is a universal happening. “It’s almost magical how parental conversation appears to influence the biological growth of the brain,” says Dr. John Gabrieli, a professor of brain and cognitive sciences, and a member of MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research.

Parents get ready, set, “point”. It’s okay for a parent to be the leader in the PARENT POINTER activity. The infant may laugh or giggle as a response, while the baby brain is learning the meaning of “point”. By 7 months the baby usually begins to start the pointing gesture towards items on their own. First, it may show up as a whole hand point, followed a few months later with the index finger point. From NOW on– pointing will be an on-going regular word builder activity, powered by both parents and baby Have fun POINTING away together!

There are two main reasons why babies point stated, Lauren Lowry, Clinical Staff Writer& Hanen CenterSpeech-Language Pathologist:

1. To ask for something – for example, sometimes babies point to ask for a toy that they can’t reach or for more cookies. This is called imperative pointing.

2. To draw someone’s attention – for example, sometimes babies point to draw someone’s attention to an interesting object or to someone new who just walked in the room. This is called declarative pointing.”

For very young babies one can leave the descriptive words out, allowing the focus to be just on the one object or the movement. Older babies will welcome sensory words in their news reports. Here’s a few examples:

sight…big little blue square

touch…smooth sticky furry cold.

smell…sweet stinky fresh fruity

taste…juicy yummy sour creamy

hear…loud soft zoom noisy

NOTE: Whenever possible use the baby’s name in the brain gain activities.

Continuous talking time with the baby ignites their brain with a desire to understand and produce speech. These loving conversations are stimulating learning connections and laying the foundation for expressive language. Just keep on talking—they’re fascinated and desire MORE!

Happy days to you,

Kylene

Resources & References

CECE College of Early Childhood Educators, University of Maryland, (2025), Repeating Words to Infants Boosts Language Development, College of Behavioral & Social Sciences, https://bsos.umd.edu/featured-content/repeating-words-infants-boosts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT News, (2018), Back-and-forth exchanges boost children’s brain response to language, https://news.mit.edu/2018/conversation-boost-childrens-brain-response-language-0214

Pathways, (2023),Why Does Baby Babble?, PathwaysBaby, https://youtu.be/WSHK7ea96Lw?si=FxP_XNl2Uum-bb5w

Sivsraman, Maithri, Ph.D., Skoler, Trica, Striano, Ph. D., (2023), What’s the Point of Baby Pointing? When babies point, they communicate and learn from others., Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/smart-families/202309/whats-the-point-of-baby-pointing#

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