Activities for 9-12 month olds
Where to start
Tools for Talking: Tuning into baby's interests
How tuning into the things they're interested in can help them to learn words.
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9-12 months: What is my baby interested in?
Professor Ben Ambridge investigates how paying attention to the same things can speed up language learning.
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Fun at mealtimes
Dinner chat
Chatting to your baby at dinner time is a great way to develop their communication skills during a busy day.
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Mealtimes - help your baby learn over lunch
Weaning provides a chance to talk to your baby about tastes.
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Talking bananas
A banana can double as both a fun prop phone and a tasty snack to share!
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Outdoors and active fun for you and your little one
Listening for sounds
Listening for different sounds when you're out and about helps your baby to begin to connect words and sounds.
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Listening to leaves
Listening to the crunching sounds of different leaves is great for your baby's listening skills.
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All day chat
Looking at laundry with baby
The laundry line or clothes horse can be fascinating for sensory fun.
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Copying little one
Coping your baby shows them you're listening to them trying to communicate
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Bath time chat
Chatting at bath time is a fun way to help boost your baby's language development during a busy day.
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Read all about it
Want something you can talk about with your baby and come back to again and again? Try making a photo book for them.
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Playtime games with your baby
Tuning into babies' interests
Watching out for what babies take an interest in is a great way of speeding up language learning.
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Blowing raspberries
Not just a bit of fun, blowing raspberries is great for sensory learning.
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Toy hide and seek
Playing toy hide and seek with your baby helps to develop their listening and interacting skills.
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Copycat game for 9-12 months
Playing copycat with your baby gives them confident in making new sounds and helps them learn how to take turns.
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Playing games with a box
You can play lots of different cardboard box games with your baby that will help develop their social skills.
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Who's holding teddy?
Playing a game of back and forth with a toy is a great way for your baby to learn how to take turns.
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Point and name game
To introduce your baby to new words, try pointing out different things that interest them and naming the objects.
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All singing and dancing
Making music and singing nursery rhymes
Music is great for development and helps babies pick up the rhythms of speech. Why not try some with your grandchild?
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Boogie time
Having a boogie with your baby is a fantastic way for them to learn about rhythm and sound.
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Action songs for toddlers
Using actions when singing songs helps your baby begin to connect words with their meaning.
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Best Start in Life
Free, trusted NHS advice and guidance to help you have a healthy and happy baby during pregnancy, birth and parenthood.
