Talking and playing with your baby: helping them find their first words
How to talk and play with your baby at every age up to 3, why screens do not replace conversation, and how to raise a child with two languages.
4 min read
In this article
Your baby learns to talk by listening to you and watching you. You do not need expensive toys. You need your voice, your face and a little time every day. The lullabies your grandmother used to sing, peekaboo and chatting at bath time are exactly what they need.
Every child has their own pace. For the main milestones read baby development month by month.
What to do at each age
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1
Birth to 6 months
Hold your baby close and look at them as you talk. Tell them what you are doing as you feed, change and bathe them. Sing to them. Repeat the sounds they make, taking turns as in a conversation.
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2
6 to 12 months
Name and point to things you can see: “Look, a cat.” Then add: “A black cat.” Look at picture books together, even without reading the words. Play peekaboo.
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3
12 to 18 months
When they say a word wrong, say it back correctly without telling them off: “Yes, it is a cat.” Give choices: “Apple or banana?” Sing songs with hand actions.
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4
18 to 24 months
Repeat the same words in different sentences. Give short instructions: “Get the ball.” Ask: “Where is your nose?”
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5
2 to 3 years
When they say “sock off”, reply with a slightly longer sentence: “Yes, we are taking your sock off.” Say their name before you speak and give them time to answer. Chat while you cook or tidy together.
Screens and noise
Phones and television do not teach a child to talk. Children learn in conversation, when someone answers them. Limit screen time, and when they do watch something, watch together and talk about it. Turn off the television and radio when nobody is watching: background noise makes it harder to hear your voice.
After 6 months, offer a dummy only for sleep, and aim to stop it around 1 year. It is hard to learn to talk with a dummy in your mouth.
Play that costs nothing
- Water: plastic cups, sponges, spoons and bottles in the bath or a basin. Never leave them alone near water.
- Books: even 10 minutes a day. Public libraries often have children’s books.
- Boxes and pots: cardboard boxes, yoghurt pots and lids become towers, cars or houses.
- Drawing: crayons on the inside of cereal boxes, from around 18 months.
- Sock puppets: an old sock with drawn-on eyes that “talks”.
- Dressing up: old hats, scarves and bags, with no cords that could wrap round the neck.
Check toys for small parts and button batteries. Follow the age guidance on the packaging.
Children with two languages
Many Albanian families live abroad, or speak two languages at home. This does not hold a child back; quite the opposite. Speak to your child in the language you feel most comfortable in. If one parent speaks Albanian and the other speaks a different language, children adapt very well. Albanian at home is a gift that connects your child to their grandparents and their roots.
When to ask the doctor
If you are worried about how your child speaks or understands, talk to the paediatrician. They may refer you to a speech and language therapist. Do not wait “for them to talk on their own”: the earlier they get help, the better.
Common questions
When do babies say their first word?
Does growing up with two languages delay talking?
Can my child learn words from cartoons?
Sources we consulted
Written by the mam.al editors as general information. It does not replace advice from your paediatrician or a speech and language therapist. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.