0mo–11mo10 minFamily timeReadingQuiet time
Home Language Word Board: Baby Voice Map
Create a small, visible word board that reflects the home languages in your child’s life, then use it in tiny daily moments (hello, cuddle, milk, all done) with warm voice, pauses, and repetition to support early listening, attention, and understanding.
What you'll need
Essentials
- paper or card (any size)
- pen or marker
- tape or reusable sticky putty
Nice to have
- phone (to message family members for words or record pronunciations)
- a small notebook (to collect new words over time)
Movement level: false
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneListens to familiar sounds, words, or finger plays.Mind· 0mo–11mo· core· Step 2
- MilestoneUnderstands familiar single wordsMind· 7mo–14mo· stretch
- MilestoneAlerts or calms to speechMind· 0mo–4mo· core
- MilestoneLooks at a speaking caregiverMind· 1mo–6mo· core
- MilestonePlays simple back-and-forth gamesHeart· 6mo–14mo· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneDeveloping the ability to follow others’ body language, including pointing and gesture.Mind· 10mo–15mo· core· Step 2
- MilestoneVocalizes back during interactionHeart· 2mo–8mo· stretch· Step 4
- MilestonePoints and gazes to share attentionHeart· 8mo–2y· stretch· Step 2
- 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· core· Step 4
- MilestoneResponds to own nameMind· 6mo–10mo· stretch
What it practices
- Quietens or alerts to the sound of speech.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Listens to, distinguishes and responds to intonations and sounds of voices.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Reacts in interaction with others by smiling, looking and moving.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Looks intently at a person talking, but stops responding if speaker turns away.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Turns toward a familiar sound then locates range of sounds with accuracy.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Display lists of words from different home languages, and invite parents and other adults to contribute. Include languages such as Romany and Creole, since seeing their languages reflected in the setting will encourage all parents to feel involved and valued.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)