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'Ask parents about child's first words'

'Maracas' and 'yum' are just two of the first words spoken by babies and reported to Talk To Your Baby, the early language campaign of the National Literacy Trust, which wants nurseries and early years settings to take part in a new scheme to encourage parents to talk to their children. Campaigners are asking parents to share the stories behind their baby's first word to highlight the important role parents play in a child's language skills.
'Maracas' and 'yum' are just two of the first words spoken by babies and reported to Talk To Your Baby, the early language campaign of the National Literacy Trust, which wants nurseries and early years settings to take part in a new scheme to encourage parents to talk to their children.

Campaigners are asking parents to share the stories behind their baby's first word to highlight the important role parents play in a child's language skills.

TTYB manager Liz Attenborough said, 'Babies learn to talk by listening to and copying their parents, so it's vital that parents and carers talk to their babies as much as possible. A baby's first word is a significant milestone on the path to becoming a talker. After lots of one-to-one interaction with parents and siblings, and practice at making sounds, a child's first word shows they have learned to use the right sounds to tell you something. It's an amazing achievement and well worth celebrating.'

It was an Australian chef who reported his daughter's first word as 'yum', Ms Attenborough said, adding, 'We want to hear more stories like these.'

Nurseries and libraries are being urged to set up display areas featuring children's first words and the interesting stories behind them. The scheme is being run in association with the Early Years Library Network, Bookstart and Youth Libraries Group.

A step-by-step guide, poster and hand-out for parents are available to download free at www.talktoyourbaby.co.uk.

Meanwhile, TTYB has also published a paper to generate discussion among parents and practitioners about the reasons behind the apparent decline in young children's language skills. 'Why do many young children lack basic language skills?' is also available on the website.