Listen and talk to your child all the time

• Your child uses eye contact, cooing, facial expressions, and movement to tell you what her or she needs and wants from the day he or she is born. Follow his or her signals to understand his or her needs.
• Babies begin to understand many words before they can speak. Talk and sing to your child often so that he or she can hear words. He or she will learn to talk by listening to you talk.     
• Have a conversation with sounds, words, and gestures. When your child communicates with you using sounds or movements, respond to him or her and he or she will respond back. You are each taking turns in the conversation.
• You can help your child learn new words by expanding on his or her language. If he or she says one word, such as “papa,” build his or her language by adding more words: “Papa loves you!”

Birth up to 6 months:

• During or after breastfeeding, talk and sing to your baby. He or she is listening and will find comfort in your voice.
• Imitate your baby’s sounds and gestures. He or she is communicating with you with his or her sounds and movements. When he coos, respond to him. Your baby needs to hear you talk. 

6 up to 9 months:

• Your baby can start to recognize common words. When you see your child is no longer hungry, ask her, “All done?” If she shows you that she is still hungry, say, “More?”
• Respond to your baby’s sounds and interests. Call your baby’s name and notice his or her response. 

9 up to 12 months:

• Your baby will start to enjoy different soft foods now, such as soft fruits or cooked vegetables, and needs diverse, colorful foods to meet his or her nutritional needs. Use words to describe the food and slowly he or she will understand new words. Name the different foods and parts of his or her body that he or she is using to eat, like his or her fingers, mouth, and tongue.   
• Talk to your baby as you prepare his or her meal. Describe what is happening as you interact with him or her, such as saying, “Here is your bowl” or “Dad cooked you potatoes.” Ask him or her questions, “Do you want eggs?” Give him or her time to respond with gestures such as pointing or sounds before you provide a verbal answer.

12 up to 24 months:

• As you feed your child, describe the colors and textures of her food. Encourage your child to speak by asking him or her the name or the color of the food he or she is eating. Point and tell your child the names of the foods after he or she has had a chance to try and answer you! 
• Sing with your child. Start a song and let him sing parts that he knows. Over time, your child can sing more and more him or herself as he or she learns more words and you can practise taking turns.
• Children learn to love stories when they read together with their parents every day. Ask him or her to point to different people and animals in a book, magazine, or poster. Praise him or her for finding the animals and objects!