What to do with this activity?
From the moment your child is born they will like hearing your voice. You can play with your child by singing or saying nursery rhymes to them. After a while your child will recognise the rhyme. Sometimes there are actions that go with the rhyme. For instance:
Humpty Dumpty
Hold your child on your lap and when you say "fall" pretend your child is falling (hold on to them carefully!).
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses, and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again!
You can click on the yellow activity link below for the words and tunes of over 50 nursery rhymes and songs that you can say or sing to your baby.
If you have an android smart phone (any smart phone that is not an iPhone) you could download a free app that has 4 videos (Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Baa Baa Black Sheep and Twinkle Twinkle). Click here and install this app on your phone. Don't rely on your phone to entertain your baby - it's much better if you sing with your baby yourself.
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Why am I doing this?
Talking is one of the most important skills your child will learn. It seems to happen naturally, but in fact you have a very important role to play. Your baby will learn to talk by hearing other people talk. The more you talk with your baby and respond to their noises and babbles, the more you help them learn to communicate. This will help them in every aspect of their life.
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How can I do more?
Songs and rhymes are especially good for children as the rhythms and repetitive language make it easier for babies to learn language skills. Babies love songs and rhymes, especially hearing the sound of your voice. This is a great way to help your child to talk and listen. Rhymes with actions explain what words mean - "pour me out" in "I'm a little teapot". You can also create sound effects when you are singing songs and saying rhymes. Use your hands to clap, your fingers to click and your mouth to make playful sounds and whistles.
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