What to do with this activity?
Soft toys are often the first toys given to a baby as gifts. Always make sure they have safety labels attached - that they are made from safe materials, with no detachable hazards.
From an early age, familiar soft toys can provide comfort and reassurance when your baby is tired or anxious. As your child grows older, a favourite soft toy might get named and be given a personality. Help your child use their imagination - show them how to put the toys to bed, comfort them when they cry, feed them, put them in a buggy and take them for a walk. Encourage your little one to think and talk about how their soft toy is feeling - they will learn new words that will help them express their own emotions. Here are five educational benefits of soft toys as your child grows.
Children learn about their world through play and soft toys can become a companion for life.
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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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