“Parentese”
WITH
“Serve & Return”
Birth to 12 months
October 13, 2023
Talking time using “Parentese” with “Serve & Return” creates
beginning baby conversations for language development. Keep 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:
Guide - the baby after the first “serve” begins on a topic or when a daily situation pops up as a topic
Model - the back-and-forth exchanges used in “parentese” with “serve & return”
Teach - vocabulary comprehension and concepts – through repetition of key words and by expanding their knowledge of a topic by using descriptive words ( cat—fluffy cat, brown cat, etc.)
Motivate - by using encouragement-- positive words, warm touches, direct-eye contact and happy facial expressions
Validate – their interactions by expressing joy, caring, and love with hugs, kisses, and the those
warming words, I love you!
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
*****Point & Look Chat
Baby Looking out Window
BABY- points and looks at object outside their window
PARENT- looks in that direction and
says, “What do you seeee?
“I seeee a little bird.”
BABY- shakes hands excitedly
PARENT- with baby moves nearer to the window
says, “I seeee the little bird on the fence.”
BABY - points & says “Ba, ba, ba”
PARENT - says, “Yees, that’s a bird. Off it flies, bye, bye bird!” while waving hand
BABY- waves hands
PARENT- waves hand and kisses baby
***** Chitter Chatter Routines
Changing Clothes, Eating, Bedtime etc.
Baby Gettng a Bath
BABY – sitting in water, splashes water with hands & smiles
PARENT- says ”Yeeess, I like water, too!”
BABY- takes rubber boat & laughs
PARENT- says, “Sammy has a yeeeeellow boat!”
BABY- giggles and pushes it down under the water
PARENT- laughs-says, “Sammy made the boat go doooown!”
and follows up by blowing kisses towards Sammy.
****Touch & Say & Gab Away!
Baby in Crib
BABY - touches blanket and smiles
PARENT- says, “Sammy has his blaaaaaanket.”
BABY- smiles
PARENT- smiles
Parent changing Baby
BABY- giggles
PARENT- touches the baby’s nose and says,
“Here’s Sammy’s nooooose.”
BABY- kicks feet and squeals happily
PARENT- touches his toes, says,
“Here’s Sammy’ toes-.
one two threeee four fiiiive”
BABY-giggles and says, “Gaa, gaa.”
PARENT- hugs baby, says “I love yooooou!”
*******Yakkey Yak!
Baby on rug with Parent
BABY- holds up stuffed animal-cat
PARENT- says, “Sammy has a tiiiiny soft caaaat.”
BABY- smiles and hands cat to parent
PARENT- pets toy cat-says, “This caaat has furrrr.”
BABY- giggles
PARENT- says, “Sammy feels the soft furrrr”—while touching toy cat to baby’s face, then hands toy cat back to baby
BABY- smiles says, “Baa, baa, baa” while holding cat
PARENT- says, “Yay, Sammy loooooves the soft cat.” and smiles
Talking time is always available, morning, noon or night! It’s free, with an unlimited supply and guaranteed to bring incredible joy!
“Babies need social interactions with loving adults who talk with them, listen to their babblings, name objects for them, and give them opportunities to explore their worlds.”
