Grow and Learn

Babies are learning as soon as they are born and love the sound of human voices. All babies start babbling from an early age – it’s their way of communicating with you. Encouraging this helps them learn to speak. At this age, your baby will like repetitive games, moving about with you and listening to you responding to their babbling.

Chat - Speaking to your baby helps them learn about the world around them. It also prepares them to learn to chat back. It’s never too early to chat.

Read - Reading to your child helps them learn to talk. Looking at books together is fun for your baby, even when they are very little.

Sing - Songs help your baby learn about language. Try singing during routines that take place throughout the day. Observe your baby’s responses to music played at home - does the music comfort them and encourage them to move?

Play - Your baby starts exploring the world straightaway through tastes, sights and sounds. Playing helps them get stronger, become more coordinated and learn new things.

Fun activities to add to your routine

Let your baby splash at bath time. Talk about what's happening and how it feels. Say the same words and do the same actions over and over - things like pouring water on their feet and saying, 'Wash, wash, wash your toes.'

As your baby approaches their first birthday, they’ll start enjoying songs with actions, rhymes and picture books. These help them learn to speak, move and observe things.

Chat - Help your baby get used to the world around them by talking about it while you’re out and about. 

Read - Even before your baby can speak in sentences, reading to them helps them develop. They learn to concentrate, look at pictures, and start building their vocabulary.  Picture books help your baby learn about the world while having fun.

Sing - Sing regularly with your little one and use a wide range of songs and rhymes.

Play - Bubbles are a fun activity for curious babies.

Fun activities to add to your routine

Play together with fabric books that have different textures. Try scrunching the fabric to get your baby’s attention or stroking their hands with the fabric. Name the objects you are playing with and talk about how they feel.  Sing lullabies which are simple, soothing and repetitive – for example, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are

At this exciting time, your baby will be learning to say words and maybe starting to walk. This is a good time to comment on what your child is doing to help them learn new words and help them choose toys and games.

Chat - Babies and toddlers can understand a lot more words than they can say.

Read - Looking at books together helps to get your child chatting.  You can support your child's interest in books by letting them choose their favourite and reading it together.

Sing - Allow time for your little one to anticipate phrases and actions within familiar songs.

Play - Playing ball games helps your baby with their coordination and eyesight.

Fun activities to add to your routine

Say or sing rhymes with actions where you tickle and touch your little one – for example, songs like Round and Round the Garden.

Round and round the garden
Like a teddy bear
One step, two steps
Tickle you under there

Toddlers learn a lot during this time, so it’s good to listen to what they are saying and talk to them, let them make choices about what they like and encourage them to play nicely with others.

Chat – Meal times are good opportunities to get your little one chatting about what food they like.

Read - A quiet time in the evening is a good chance to check in with your child.

Sing - Repeat songs- children learn songs through repetition.

Play - Looking at toys together - during play time, see if you can get your child chatting and paying close attention to toys.

Fun activities to add to your routine

Simple activities like playing ‘I spy’ in the car or on the bus can really help set your child up for school – you can see their imagination light up.  It also makes long journeys more fun.