Nursery World - Speak up (2)

The human interaction that babies and toddlers need to develop communication is explored by Jennie Lindon Babies and toddlers are keen to make social contact and communicate with other people from their earliest days.

Babies and toddlers are keen to make social contact and communicate with other people from their earliest days.

One of the ten principles underpinning Birth to Three Matters reminds practitioners that 'Babies and young children are social beings, they are competent learners from birth.' The importance of communication skills is highlighted in one of the four aspects, 'A Skilful Communicator'.

Babies and children do not need to be pushed into communicating, nor do they need special language programmes, unless they are coping with a disability that directly affects the development of communication.

To stimulate their communication skills, under-threes need communicative adults and an interesting learning environment, with flexible play resources that they can explore at their leisure.

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