INFANT STIMULATION PROGRAMMES 3 (0+3)

Module- 7 & 8: Planning, Implementing and Evaluation of Stimulation Programme for Infants (7-12 months)

Execution of stimulation programme for language development

Introduction: By six months age, babies begin more and more to understand language. They will first understand names, then single words and finally simple sentences. Babies will understand spoken language much earlier than they will be able to speak it. It is also during this time that babies will begin to develop simple problem solving skills by playing with materials.

Here's how parents can help stimulate language and intellectual skills:

• Talk to them. Parents should talk to their babies often.


• Imitate them. Parents should repeat the sounds their babies make.


• Carry on conversations. Parents can carry on conversations with their babies. They should pause to give their babies a chance to reply.


• Make eye contact. Parents should make eye contact with their babies while talking to them (make physical contact by holding and touching, too).


• Read to them. Parents should read to their babies.


• Concentrate on a few words. When babies appear ready to speak, parents should concentrate on a few simple, important words.


• Use visuals. When introducing a new word, parents should show their babies a drawing or picture of the new word, too.


• Encourage curiosity. Parents should let their babies experiment and explore. Parents can encourage curiosity and creativity by letting their babies do things "their way." Babies learn more through experience than by being told or shown how to do things. Parents should keep in mind, too, that there is nothing wrong if babies play with toys in unusual ways. If babies prefer to look at a book upside down, that's okay. Babies are always experimenting and learning. Parents shouldn't limit their babies' experiences by believing that there is a "right way" to do things.


• Spill water. Parents can fill a cup with water in the bathtub and let their babies turn it over. This will teach the concept of cause and effect.


• Cover toys. Parents can cover a toy with a cloth and then have their babies look for it. This will show babies that objects still exist, even if they can't be seen.


• Introduce concepts. Parents can introduce concepts like the coffee cup is hot, the teddy bear is soft, the car goes fast. Babies will soon begin to understand what is meant.