Learn to Talk Viewing Tips

Your baby or toddler will enjoy watching ‘Learn to Talk’ time and time again by themselves, however if you are able to watch along with them there are several potential additional benefits.

When you watch Learn to Talk with your baby the whole experience will be enhanced and become much more interactive. By repeating and reinforcing the words your baby sees and hears in the video will strengthen connections between the on-screen activity and real life.

Here are a few helpful tips to help enhance your baby’s language development when watching Learn to Talk and when helping your baby or toddler say their first words in general.

• Repetition and Reinforcement: This is an important element of language learning. Repeat the words and signs you see on screen to help your baby make connections. Babies learn through repetition, so don’t worry about overdoing it!

• Praise and Encouragement: When your baby attempts to say a word or make a sign, praise their effort. Positive reinforcement will encourage them to keep trying.

• Descriptive Language (say what you see): Describe what you’re doing and what your baby is seeing. For example, “I’m eating a strawberry”, “See the strawberry”, “Yummy strawberry.”

• Expand Vocabulary: Use a variety of words to describe objects, actions, and feelings. “Look at the big, brown bear. The bear is sleeping.”

• Interactive Play: Use toys and books that reinforce the words and signs from the videos your baby watches. Point to the real-life objects (or pictures in books) and use corresponding signs.

• Sing Songs: Simple songs and nursery rhymes with actions are great for language development.

• Everyday Routines: Try to incorporate signs and words from Learn to Talk into everyday situations, for example:

• Be Patient and Observant: Watch for cues and pay attention to your baby’s attempts to communicate. They may start by mimicking gestures or making sounds.

• Celebrate Small Wins: Every attempt to communicate by your baby, whether through signs or sounds or actions is a step forward. Celebrate these moments to build confidence.

• Create a Language-Rich Environment: Talk to your baby and engage in conversations with them throughout the day. Even if they don’t respond with words yet, they’re always listening and learning.

• Limit Screen Time: Yes, we know we make amazing videos for kids but please balance screen time with plenty of face-to-face interaction, which is crucial for language development. We live in a world of digital media and this only increases as children get older but too much screen time is never advised (this goes for all of us!) and nothing beats real world interactions.

By combining videos like Learn to Talk with baby sign language, interactive play and consistent, descriptive communication, you can help your baby learn to say their first words.

Remember, every baby and child develop at their own pace, so be patient, keep the experience exciting and engaging and most importantly, have fun when you Learn to Talk!

More Resources

For some more tips on how to help your baby say their first words the NHS website has a useful article which can be read here: Help your baby learn to talk

There is also some great information on the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) which can be read here: Baby speech development 12-18 months