You might naturally find yourself teaching your baby to take turns as you play with them - but did you realise that it's such a key part of their early language learning?
Dr Guddi Singh explains why and outlines some turn taking activity ideas in the video below.
Hi, I'm Dr. Guddi Singh, and I'm here to share some tips and ideas about how you can help your baby's language and communication skills. Today, we're going to look at taking turns and giving your baby the chance to respond.
Play repetitive games to teach your baby to be interested in what happens next, like handing them a teddy and asking for it back. Call out whose turn it is as you pass it back and forth. This is great practice for having a conversation later on.
When baby babbles to you, copy their babble right back to them. Respond to a baby's babbling about. By showing them that you're paying attention, you will encourage them to make more sounds.
Fill a large container with water and toys and take it in turn to share the toys and splash the water and call out the sounds that you can hear.
Taking turns is a really great way for baby to learn how to make choices. It will increase their ability to communicate and it can be incorporated into everyday life.
The benefits of turn taking with your baby
Waiting for your baby to respond shows them you're paying attention and encourages them to make more noises.
Turn taking is great practice for conversations as they get used to waiting and listening for you to respond and then taking a turn themselves. This is just like the back and forth of a chat between two people.
Waiting their turn helps build their listening and anticipation skills.
How to encourage turn taking
Play repetitive games with your baby. The more they learn the pattern of play, the more they'll anticipate what happens next and be ready to take their turn.
Handing a teddy back and forth can be a good game to play with 9-12 month olds. Call out whose turn it is as you pass it back and forth.
Or maybe you could have a go at playing with a banana phone.
When baby babbles to you, copy their babble right back to them. This shows them that you're paying attention and will encourage them to make more sounds.
Parts of your daily routine can be great practice time for turn taking, like this bath time activity
You could try taking turns at meal time too
