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Did you know your baby starts learning about language before they’re even born? While still in the womb, they are already tuning in to sounds, voices, and even music. These early experiences help their brain form connections that will support future learning and communication. So, how can you help?

Talk to Your Baby Before Birth 
Your baby starts learning before they are born! Talking to them helps them know your voice and the sounds of speech. You can chat about your day, say what you’re doing, or read a short story. It also helps them feel calm. Learn more on BBC Tiny Happy People here and see how it’s done. 

Let Family and Friends Join In 
Ask family and friends to talk to your baby too! Babies can learn to recognize voices before they are born. This helps them feel close to loved ones after birth. Find out more on BBC Tiny Happy People. 

Sing to Your Baby 
Singing is a great way to bond with your baby. Babies listen to the rhythm and tone of songs. This helps them learn about feelings and speech. Singing can also help calm them after birth. Discover more on BBC Tiny Happy Baby. 

By talking, singing, and sharing stories, you are already helping your baby learn! These small, simple actions can make a big difference – even before they are born. 

For more tips, visit BBC’s Tiny Happy People page for parents. 

Your baby is here, and their brain is growing fast! Talking, singing, and making eye contact help them learn to communicate. These small moments help them feel safe and loved. Make sure to get their hearing checked by 5 weeks to help with speech development. 

Look at Your Baby’s Face 
When you look into your baby’s eyes, they start to recognize you. Babies learn by watching faces and expressions. This helps them understand feelings and communication. Learn more on BBC Tiny Happy People. 

Sing While Feeding 
Singing while feeding helps your baby feel calm. It also helps them learn the sounds of speech. Find out more on BBC Tiny Happy People . 

Talking with Family
When family and friends talk to your baby, they are helping them learn! Babies start to know voices and feel safe with loved ones. Watch an example on BBC Tiny Happy People. 

Enjoy Every Moment! 
Talking, singing, and playing with your baby helps their brain grow. Every little moment helps them learn! 

Check out BBC Tiny Happy People Parent Manual for more baby tips

At 3-6 months, babies start to notice more around them. They listen to sounds, react to faces, and love playful time with you! These simple moments help them learn to talk and understand feelings. 

Baby “Conversations” 
When your baby makes a sound, answer back! This helps them learn how conversations work. Try it and learn more on BBC Tiny Happy people. 

Peekaboo for Learning 
Peekaboo isn’t just fun—it teaches your baby that things are still there even when they can’t see them. It also helps with eye contact and giggling! Watch a video to learn more. 

Funny Faces 
Babies love faces! Try big smiles, raised eyebrows, or sticking out your tongue. This helps them learn about emotions and communication. Discover more on BBC Tiny Happy People.

“Ready…Steady…Go!” Games 
Say “Ready…Steady…Go!” before rolling a ball or popping bubbles. This helps your baby learn to listen, take turns, and get excited! Try it on BBC Tiny Happy people. 

Play and Learn!
Talking, playing, and laughing with your baby helps them learn about language and feelings. Have fun together—it all helps them grow! 

Your Little Chatterbox! 
At 6-9 months, your baby is making more sounds! They are babbling, copying noises, and learning how to “talk” with you. These early sounds help them get ready for real words! 

Talk and Babble Together 
When your baby babbles, answer back! This shows them that talking is fun. Try copying their sounds or adding new ones—they will love to copy you! Learn more on BBC Tiny Happy people. Want to watch a video?

Picture Fun
Show your baby picture books or flashcards and say what you see. If you can, show them the real object too! This helps them learn words. Try it on BBC Tiny Happy people.

Celebrate Every Babble! 
Talking and playing with your baby helps them learn! Keep chatting, playing, and having fun together—it all helps them grow! 

More questions? 
Read what a health visitor has to say.

At 9-12 months, they are exploring, playing, and starting to say their first words. Now is also a great time to start weaning off the dummy or pacifier. If the dummy is always in their mouth, they won’t practice making sounds and words. Look on the BBC Tiny Happy People website for tips on weaning off the dummy. 

Follow Your Baby’s Interests 
Watch what your baby likes—maybe a toy, a sound, or a new object. Talk about it with them! This helps them learn words. Learn more on the BBC Tiny Happy People website.

Fun at Mealtimes 
Talk about the food your baby eats—describe the taste, texture, and color. Pretend a banana is a phone to make it fun! Try these ideas on the BBC Tiny Happy People website. 

Listening Games 
Help your baby listen to sounds like birds singing or cars driving by. This helps them focus and connect sounds to the world.

Family Photos 
Looking at pictures of family members helps your baby remember faces and feel connected. Say their names and talk about them! Learn more on the BBC Tiny Happy People website.

Play and Learn! 
By watching, listening, and playing with your baby, you help them grow and learn. Enjoy these special moments! 

Time for a Check-Up! 
It’s time for your baby’s 9-12 month check-up with the health visitor! 

At 12-18 months, your toddler is learning new words, copying sounds, and following daily routines. This is an exciting time as they start using words to communicate! 

Follow Their Lead
If your toddler is excited about a toy, game, or object, join in! Talk about what they are doing. This helps them learn words in a fun way. Learn more on the BBC Tiny Happy People website. 

First Words 
Your toddler’s first words might not be “mama” or “dada”—they could say “milk” or “teddy” instead! No matter what their first word is, celebrate it! Keep talking to encourage more. Learn about first words on the BBC Tiny Happy People website. 

Sing Together! 
Nursery rhymes help toddlers learn new words and sounds. Adding actions makes it even more fun! Find out why and find some songs on the BBC Tiny Happy People website.

Talk During Daily Routines 
Describe what you’re doing—“Let’s put on your shoes!”—to help your toddler learn words and understand daily tasks. Learn how to do this on the BBC Tiny Happy People website.
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Keep Talking and Playing! 
By talking, singing, and playing, you’re helping your toddler grow and learn. Keep the fun going! 

Your toddler is now learning words fast! They might even start putting two words together, like “big car.” You can help them by talking with them, playing, and making learning fun. 

Add More Words 
If your toddler says “car,” you can say, “Yes! A red car!” This helps them learn new words. Learn more about adding new words on the BBC Tiny Happy People website.
 

Talk During Daily Activities 
Talk about what you do every day, like reading a book, getting dressed, or eating meals.

Make a Sock Puppet! 
Sock puppets are great for storytelling and learning new words. Get some ideas from the BBC Tiny Happy People website! 

Expert Tips 
A speech and language therapist shares easy ways to help toddlers learn to talk. Check them out on the BBC Tiny Happy People website. 

Talking Every Day Helps! 
By chatting and playing, you’re giving your toddler the best start with words. Keep talking! Prepare for your child’s 2-year check-up here. 

At 2-3 years, toddlers use longer sentences and love to pretend-play. You can help by talking with them and playing fun games!

Use Longer Sentences 
When your child says, “dog,” you can say, “The dog is running!” This helps them learn. Learn more on the BBC Tiny Happy People website. 

Help with Pronunciation 
If they say “tat” instead of “cat,” just repeat it the right way: “Yes! A big cat!” No need to correct them. Read more on the BBC Tiny Happy People website. 

Pretend Play is Great! 
Acting out roles—like superheroes, teachers, or firefighters—helps your child learn words and social skills. Get ideas for role-play on the BBC Tiny Happy People website. How about playing chef? 

Make Playdough Together 
Mix, roll, and shape homemade playdough while talking about colours and textures. Find a simple playdough recipe and tips on the BBC Tiny Happy People website. 
 

Play “What’s Outside?” 
Look outside and talk about what you see—birds, cars, trees. This builds vocabulary. Learn how to play on the BBC Tiny Happy People website. 

Talking Through Play is Fun! 
Through pretend play, games, and conversations, you’re helping your child learn every day! 

At 3-4 years, children use longer sentences and talk about past and future events. Help them by chatting, reading, and playing together! 

Talk About the Past & Future 
Ask questions like, “What did we do at the park?” or plan fun adventures together. Make  up a story about their favourite teddy. Describe what they might see, hear or smell along the way. Find top tips for talking about the past on the BBC Tiny Happy People website.  Here are also some fun play activities. 

Tell Stories with Picture Books 
After reading a book, ask your child to retell the story in their own words. This helps them learn! Discover ways to use books for storytelling. 
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Shopping Game! 
Turn grocery shopping into a fun game—ask your child to find and name items or guess what’s next. Learn to make shopping a fun learning experience on the BBC Tiny Happy People website or try this game.  

Craft with Recycled Materials 
Let your child make something fun and describe how they did it! Get ideas using everyday materials on the BBC Tiny Happy People website. 

Build Language Every Day!
Following these tips, helps your child learn language and thinking skills. Talking and playing together is helping your child learn and grow! 

Your child’s language skills are growing fast! Keep playing word games, singing rhymes, and having fun with sounds. School is coming. Help build foundations for reading and writing. 
 

Need Ideas? 
Answer a few quick questions on the BBC Tiny Happy People website to help find fun activities for your 4-5-year-old. 

Rhyming Fun! 
Rhyming helps kids hear patterns in words. Sing songs, read rhyming books, and play word games! Learn why rhymes are important on the BBC Tiny Happy People website. 

Try These Fun Phonics Games! 

• Sound Sorting – Group items by their first sounds

• Treasure Hunt – Find things that start with a certain sound

• Rhyme Game – Think of rhyming words together

Have Fun with Words! 
By playing with phonics, rhymes and other activities every day, you’re helping your child build confidence and be ready for reading when the go to school. These simple games boost their creativity, focus and language skills. Have fun exploring words together!