How To: Make Listening and Learning Fun

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It’s not just what you say, it’s the way you say it.

How you talk with your baby is just as important as the number and quality of words you say to them.¹ Your baby’s brain is wired to learn the sounds, accents, and musical rhythm of the language(s) you speak at home.

Your voice – and how you use it – helps your baby understand the meaning and emotion in what you say to them.

The way you use your voice can make learning language fun and engaging for both you and your baby! Try these simple tips to keep learning fun:

Use a sing-song voice with your baby. You could say, “Baby is sooooo big!”
Be a Drama Mama or Dramatic Daddy. Try getting your baby’s attention with different voices and pitches. You could say, “It’s a tiny mouse,” in a high-pitched voice. And you could say, "It’s a GREAT BIG ELEPHANT,” in a deep, low voice.
Use different patterns in talking with your baby. You could say, “Up, up, up!” when you lift your baby. And you could say, “Dooooooown!” when you lift them down into their crib.
Talk at different volumes. Try a loud voice and then try a soft whisper.

¹Ramírez-Esparza, N., García-Sierra, A., & Kuhl, P. K. (2014). Look who’s talking: Speech style and social context in language input to infants are linked to concurrent and future speech development. Developmental Science, 17(6), 880–891. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.12172

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How To: Make Listening and Learning Fun

It’s not just what you say, it’s the way you say it.

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It’s not just what you say, it’s the way you say it.

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