Why You Need to Love Them Out Loud
The sooner they start, the further they’ll go!
TALK ing TIPS
When your baby makes sounds, be sure to make eye contact and respond. He’ll learn that efforts to communicate are effective and important.
Imitate the sounds your child makes. Take turns imitating each other. Laughing is a bonus!
Name the objects around you, describe what you’re doing and explain what will happen next.
Repeat what your child says using more sophisticated words and sentences to expand her vocabulary.
Your child will enjoy…
READ ing TIPS:
Create a cozy place for reading and make it part of your daily routine.
Let your child choose which book to read. Even babies can choose by reaching for one of the books you offer.
Don’t worry if your child wants to skip pages. Go with the flow so the experience is fun for both of you.
Create funny voices for characters in the book you are reading. Your child will think you’re hilarious!
Go ahead and read a favorite book over and over. Repetition helps kids learn new vocabulary.
Your child will enjoy…
PLAY ing TIPS:
Encourage pretending and join in! Have imaginary tea with your child and invite the teddy bear to join you.
Stacking blocks, stringing beads and sorting objects helps your child develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Most babies and toddlers are fascinated by bubbles. Babies track them visually, and toddlers try to catch them. They’re fun indoors and out!
Young children are “hands-on” learners, so interactive books with flaps, textures, moving parts and sounds are especially fun and engaging.
Your child will enjoy…
SING ing TIPS:
Check out a CD of children’s music from the Library to play in the car. You and your child can learn new songs and sing together.
Try making up new words to familiar tunes such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star: “Now it’s time to take a nap, I think I should take one too!”
If you’re not a singer, just recite song lyrics or nursery rhymes and bounce your child to the rhythm.
Play music and dance with your little one, or give him a plastic container and spoon so he can keep the beat.
Your child will enjoy…
WRITING TIPS:
Learning to use an index finger to point is a foundation skill for learning to write.
Using an index finger and thumb to pick things up builds hand muscles needed for writing.
Teach your toddler finger plays to help him learn finger control.
Guide your baby’s finger and arm to point to pictures in books.
Your child will enjoy…
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Learning to communicate is super important! And no one is better at teaching your baby than YOU. Each day, you are developing your own special ways to communicate, providing a lasting bond and laying the groundwork for your child’s limitless future. Love Them Out Loud is a Dayton Metro Library program that promotes early childhood literacy and development by providing resources and support to parents and caregivers in Montgomery County, Ohio. Thank you to all our partners who share our dedication to creating a brighter future, one child at a time.
