1. When I am in mum’s tummy I can hear. I love to listen to your voice when you talk or sing to me. I even like to listen to your favourite music

• Hearing you helps me to recognise you and builds a bond between us. Voices and music that I know will comfort me when I am born.

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2. Cuddle me close so I can see your face and talk to me as soon as I am born

• I love it when you talk in a high pitched, singsong voice. People all over the world talk this way to babies because it helps us to learn.
• I might not be able to talk yet, but I will respond in my own way. I might look hard at your face, move my mouth when you talk or even wave my arms and legs. These all mean I am bonding with you.

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3. Talk about things that interest me or tell me how you think I am feeling

• If I look or point at something talk about that. This shows me that you understand me.

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4. Don’t ignore me

• Grown-ups are experts in talking and I learn everything from you.
• Put your phone down, turn off the telly and let’s have a chat.
• I can hear you really well when it is quiet. I like to listen carefully to your talking. This will help me to become a good listener and a good talker.

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5. I love it when we play, sing and read together

• We can play with anything it doesn’t have to be toys. We can make funny faces together or play with a cardboard box.
• Follow my lead when I am playing. This lets me use my imagination.
• Talk to me about what I am doing rather than asking questions. I will talk more when you do this.
• Sharing stories together helps me to learn new words and ideas. I love it when we talk about the story as we turn the pages. Let me see the pictures too.

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6. Talk to me all the time

• Talk to me when we are playing or doing everyday things like shopping, having a bath, nappy changing or eating tea.
• It doesn’t matter if you say the same things over and over again, this is how I learn.

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7. Play talking tennis with me

• Say something to me and then give me lots of time to respond.
• It helps to count to 10 in your head before speaking again. This how I learn to take turns.
• When I’m a baby I still like to play talking tennis. Watch out for my smiles, sounds and looks. This is my way of talking to you. As I get older, I will start to use words.

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8. Teach me new words

• You can help me to grow my talking by repeating what I say and adding a new word or two.
• This is how I learn to put words together. If I say “car” you could say “your pushing the car” or “the car is driving“.

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9. Take my dummy out when I am talking

• Dummies get in the way and stop me talking clearly.

10. Use the language you know best when you talk to me at home

• This will help my brain to grow and I will learn English quickly if I already know the words in our home language.

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