It's clear when a baby's verbal skills are ramping up: He or she is constantly trying to communicate with you with an ever-growing store of sounds. Here's a playful way to help your baby keep working on speech.
Appropriate for:
3 to 9 months
Skills developed:
Verbal
What you'll need:
Two play telephones, or real phones that are turned off or disconnected
Give your baby one telephone, holding the receiver up to his or her ear. Then use your phone to hold a one-sided conversation, using a slow, exaggerated speaking style. Leave long pauses between your questions and comments, and soon you may notice your baby beginning to make gurgling and cooing responses. This is a great way for you to help your baby practice the rhythms of conversation.