Skip to main navigation
Skip to content
In the first 15 months of life, your baby’s brain is like a sponge, soaking up every rhythm, sound, and facial expression.
Long before they speak, they are communicating through 'serve and return' interactions – a smile, a kick of the legs, or a focused stare.
Many parents are keen to hear that first word, but if your baby still hasn't reached the milestone, don’t fret. What matters most is the foundation you build today through play.
At Goodstart, our early childhood experts believe the best way to support this is to follow your child's lead.
1. Narrate their world
Babies are naturally fascinated by the things that happen to them. By narrating daily routines – such as getting dressed, taking a bath, or feeding – you help your baby understand their world.
Follow their lead: If your baby points at their hat, tell a short story about it. Include the colour and how it belongs to them.
Use their name: Babies tune in when they hear their name. Start your sentences with it to capture their full attention.
Mirror their sounds: When your baby gurgles or sighs, relay that sound back to them. You are showing them that their voice has power.
Narrating daily routines helps your baby understand their world. Tip: start sentences with their name
2. The power of peek-a-boo
Between eight and 10 months, babies begin to understand 'object permanence' – the idea that things still exist even when they can’t see them. This simple game is a powerhouse for social communication.
Get on their level: Sit on the floor close to your baby. Hide behind a blanket and ask, 'where is [Baby’s Name]?'.
The big reveal: Lower the blanket, lean in, and say, 'There he/she is!'.
Expand the game: Try hiding a soft toy like 'Little Ted'. This repetition builds memory and the 'give and take' of conversation.
3. Rhythms and rhymes: This Little Piggy
Babies love physical touch combined with rhythmic sound. Classic finger plays like 'This Little Piggy' support language, listening skills, and self-awareness.
Eye contact is key: Cradle your baby so they can watch how your mouth moves to form words.
The power of the pause: As you touch each toe, use 2–3 second pauses to build excitement. The anticipation of the 'wee, wee, wee' tickle at the end teaches them how stories have a beginning, middle, and end.
The Goodstart recommended reading list
Reading together is one of the most wonderful ways to bond with baby. Our educators and children in-centre love these Australian favourites:
- Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox & Judy Horacek – An Australian icon perfect for hunting for clues.
- Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox – A beautiful celebration of babies everywhere.
- Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell – A classic lift-the-flap book for tactile discovery.
- My First Shapes by Fiona Bowden – High-contrast black and white images that mesmerise infants.
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle – A staple for building vocabulary.
Enjoy reading some of our favourite baby books to your little one - and watch their love of language flourish
FAQ: Supporting your baby's literacy
-
The best activities involve 'serve and return' interaction. This includes narrating daily routines, playing Peek-a-boo to teach social flow, and using rhythmic finger plays like 'This Little Pig' to build listening skills.
-
Babies develop at their own pace. Many infants utter their first meaningful word around 12 months, but the 'normal' range is broad. Some start as early as 9 months, while others find their voice closer to 18 months.
-
Focus on child-led communication. Follow your baby's gaze, name the objects they are interested in, and use 'parentese' (a high-pitched, melodic voice). Repetition and saying your baby's name at the start of sentences also helps them focus on your speech.
-
Every baby develops at their own pace. While many say their first word by 12 months, many others wait until 15 or 18 months. If you are concerned, observe their non-verbal communication, such as pointing and eye contact, and speak with your child's educator or a paediatrician.
-
Storytelling enhances a baby’s memory and creative thinking while building a foundation for language development. Even before they can speak, babies learn the structure of language, the rhythm of speech, and the emotional context of words through the stories you tell.
-
Yes. Research shows that 'parentese' – using a higher pitch, elongated vowels, and exaggerated facial expressions – captures a baby's attention more effectively than adult-level speech. This style of communication helps babies identify the distinct sounds of their language, making it easier for them to eventually form words.
-
'Serve and return' is a child-led interaction where a baby 'serves' a sound or gesture, and the adult 'returns' it with a response. This process is essential for brain development as it strengthens the neural connections needed for communication, social-emotional bonding, and literacy.
-
Absolutely. Repetition is key to early learning. Reading the same book daily helps babies recognise familiar words, predict what happens next, and develop the memory skills required for later literacy success.
-
You can create a literacy-rich environment by making books accessible at your baby's eye level, narrating your daily routines, and responding to your baby's babbles as meaningful conversation. Incorporating songs, rhymes, and storytelling into everyday moments like bath time and feeding also supports this.