How YOU can help your baby’s speech and language grow
(6 to 12 months):

• use gestures when you talk to your baby (wave "hi", point "up")
  
• show your child how to make gestures by moving his/her hand
  
• get excited when your child starts to point to things - say the name of the objects and let your child hold them if possible
  
• use simple words to talk about what you are doing
  
• speak in short sentences
  
• be consistent in the words you use to label objects
  
• play sound games - say words or sounds back and forth for as long as your child is interested
  
• play simple games like "peek-a-boo" and "pat-a-cake"
  
• tell your child to listen to the different sounds you hear (rain falling, phone ringing)
  
• sing songs or nursery rhymes
  

Adapted with permission from material developed by First Words Preschool Speech and Language Program of Ottawa-Carleton led by Pinecrest-Queensway Health and Community Services.

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