—6 minFamily timeQuiet timeStory time
Babble Trace Talk
A close baby interaction where adult speech, baby babble, and simple tracing movements support the roots of later writing.
What you'll need
Essentials
- your voice
- paper or washable tray
- finger or thick crayon
Nice to have
- paper and crayon if useful for recording
Movement level: false
What you'll do
The 3-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneChildren’s later writing is based on skills and understandings which they develop as babies and toddlers. Before they can write, they need to learn to use spoken language to communicate. Later they learn to write down the words they can say. (See the roots of Writing in Communication and language).Mind· 0mo–11mo· stretch· Steps 1, 3
- MilestoneVocalizes back during interactionHeart· 2mo–8mo· core
- MilestoneTakes turns making soundsHeart· 4mo–8mo· core
- MilestoneUnderstands familiar contextual cuesMind· 0mo–11mo· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneSustains visual attention brieflyMind· 1mo–4mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneRaises arms to be picked upHeart· 6mo–9mo· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneProduces reduplicated babbleMind· 5mo–10mo· stretch
What it practices
- Children’s later writing is based on skills and understandings which they develop as babies and toddlers. Before they can write, they need to learn to use spoken language to communicate. Later they learn to write down the words they can say. (See the roots of Writing in Communication and language).Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Communicates needs and feelings in a variety of ways including crying, gurgling, babbling and squealing.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Makes own sounds in response when talked to by familiar adults.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Lifts arms in anticipation of being picked up.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Practises and gradually develops speech sounds (babbling) to communicate with adults; says sounds like ‘baba, nono, gogo’.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE) — cross-aspect multi-target authored per DM2012 's See [other aspect] pattern