Communicate in a variety of ways including crying, gurgling, babbling and squealing.
Make sounds with their voices in social interaction.
Cries to express needs, for example, when hungry, angry or in pain.
Gurgles to get attention.
Turns quickly to hear your voice across the room.
Listens to familiar voices even if they can't see the person.
Vocalises back when talked to (making own sounds) especially to familiar people and when a smiling face is used.
Responds differently to different tones of voice (for example, sing-song, questioning, soothing and playful) as the tone of voice helps them to understand the meaning.
Uses voice, gesture, eye contact and facial expression to make contact with people and keep their attention.
Vocalises more when adults use child-directed speech.
Responses to your communication, for example movement, attentiveness to the speaker, and sounds from the home language and English for a child learning more than one language.
The different ways babies communicate - such as gurgling when happy.
How young babies tell you that they are tired, hungry, angry or in pain.
The things you do that seem to encourage young babies to vocalise more.
Where young babies direct their visual attention. Do they look at you when you talk to them? Are they beginning to look where you are looking to understand what you say?
How young babies begin to use gesture, eye contact and facial expression purposefully to make contact and hold your attention.
The range of speech sounds made by young babies as they begin to babble.
Being physically close, making eye contact, using touch or voice all provide ideal opportunities for early 'conversations' between adults and babies, and between one baby and another.
Find out from parents how they like to communicate with their baby, noting especially the chosen language.
Learn and use key words in the home languages of babies in the setting.
Share stories, songs and rhymes from all cultures and in babies' home languages.
Maintain face-to-face contact, looking at babies as you talk about what they are doing. You might say "Was that a yawn? You're tired!".
Share quiet moments together - this allows babies to enjoy the intimacy of looking at each other and to learn about other people and themselves.
Respond by lifting and soothing babies when they cry - this helps them to learn that they are communicating their needs to you.
Comment when babies move or make a sound, for example, when they burp, you might say "Do you feel better now?".
Use touch - stroking, tickling and cuddles are all important parts of early communication. They help babies to enjoy being with you and listening to you.
Listen out for different cries indicating hunger, wetness and tiredness. Respond to what you understand babies to be communicating in this way.
Make it clear when you are talking to a child by using their name or by touching their arm.
Copy the sounds, mouth movements and facial expressions babies make while they are looking at you. Sometimes babies will begin to copy you too.
Think about how some routines such as nappy changing and feeding start to have game elements with repeated patterns (maybe tickles) and comments such as "You! Are you laughing at me? Are you?".
Remember to leave pauses or gaps in your 'conversation' with babies so that they can do something to begin taking a turn.
Think about how you talk and use child directed speech, with short, simple sentences and repetitive words or phrases. Vary your intonation patterns and use animated facial expressions to attract and maintain the attention of babies and children.
Enjoy anticipation rhymes and games together, for example, hiding your face and building expectation such as "Boo!" or "Here I come".
Display photographs showing the signs that tell us how young babies communicate.
Provide tapes and tape recorders so that parents can record familiar, comforting sounds, such as lullabies in home languages. Use these to help babies settle if they are tired or distressed.
Share favourite stories as babies are settling to sleep, or at other quiet times.
Language for Thinking
Are intrigued by novelty and events and actions around them.
How babies listen to, concentrate on or gaze intently at things that catch their interest
Interpret and give meaning to the things young babies show interest in
Provide resources that stimulate babies' interests such as a shiny bell, a book or a mirror.
Linking Sounds and Letters
Listen to, distinguish and respond to intonations and the sounds of voices.
Quietens or alerts to the sound of speech.
Turns quickly to your voice across the room.
Responds differently to different tones of voice or speech sounds.
Is calmed by soft speech or song.
Makes sounds such as gurgles and coos.
Produces and copies non-speech sounds such as coos, raspberries, effort grunts, shrieks and squeals.
Vocalises back when talked to (making own sounds) especially to familiar adult and when a smiling face is used.
Begins to develop and use vowel sounds from the language used at home, for example, 'a' as in hat or 'e' as in pet.
Begins to babble by repeating a series of the same sounds (reduplicated babble), for example, "Ba-ba-ba", "Ma-ma-ma".
Begins to develop and use some consonant sounds, for example, 'g-g', 'mmm', 'h', 'd-d'.
Makes sounds for pleasure, for example, vocalises with tuneful voice for minutes at a time to self when lying in cot or at play.
The sounds and signs babies make.
How young babies respond to different tones of voice used by adults speaking to them.
Examples of young babies being calmed by soft speech or song.
The range of sounds young babies make.
Encourage playfulness, turn-taking and responses, including peek-a-boo and rhymes.
Try singing while feeding and bathing babies.
Rock babies rhythmically to songs, music and good-night routines.
Make your voice fun to listen to by varying your intonation and facial expressions. Use stress and intonation to highlight parts of speech, for example, "What a good girl!".
Use higher pitch and vary your pitch to attract babies' attention. Add contrast to your speech, for example put higher pitch and emphasis on "Up we go!" and "Down the stairs".
As you walk around with a baby in your arms, talk about the different sounds you hear in the setting.
Talk to babies in quiet situations. It's more difficult for them to hear your words in a noisy environment.
Copy the sounds the baby makes.
Repeat familiar words and phrases, such as "Here's your milk", "Where's your Mum? Ooo, there she is!".
Play with sound-making toys, such as rattles and drums and other noisy things around the setting.
Repeat rhymes and play routines, as babies will enjoy listening to the patterns of your speech.
Play music to and with babies.
Share books with babies, repeating key phrases and noises as you do so.
Plan times when you can sing with young babies, encouraging them to join in exploration of their fingers and toes.
Reading
Listen to familiar sounds, words, or finger plays.
Responses that tell you a young baby is listening.
Use finger play, rhymes and familiar songs from home to support young babies' enjoyment.
Collect a range of board books, cloth books and stories to share with young babies.
Writing
Move arms and legs and increasingly use them to reach for, grasp and manipulate things.
The random marks young babies make in food.
Talk about the random marks young babies make, showing them that you value what they do.
Provide gloop (cornflour and water) in small trays so babies can enjoy making marks in it.
Handwriting
Play with own fingers and toes and focus on objects around them.
How young babies fix their gaze on objects or on their own feet or fists.
Place young babies where they can focus on and grasp toys, and wriggle and roll freely.
Provide a variety of toys that encourage young babies to reach and grasp, for example, a baby gym.
Acknowledgements
Disclaimer
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