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".
Language for Thinking
Interpret and give meaning to the things young babies show interest in
Linking Sounds and Letters
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.
Reading
Use finger play, rhymes and familiar songs from home to support young babies' enjoyment.
Writing
Talk about the random marks young babies make, showing them that you value what they do.
Handwriting
Place young babies where they can focus on and grasp toys, and wriggle and roll freely.
Acknowledgements
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