0mo–11mo10 minFamily timeFree playQuiet time
Sound-to-Object Discovery
A short responsive play routine where you treat your child’s early sounds as meaningful attempts, respond with an object/action, and build gentle back-and-forth turn-taking.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a soft doll or stuffed toy
- 2 safe everyday objects (e.g., a plastic cup and a clean cloth)
- a comfy place to sit with your child (blanket/mat/your lap)
Nice to have
- paper and pen (or phone notes app) to jot the sound and context
- a small unbreakable mirror (only if already safe for your baby)
Movement level: low
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneLearns that own voice and actions have effects on others.Heart· 0mo–11mo· core· Step 2
- MilestoneTakes turns making soundsHeart· 4mo–8mo· core
- MilestoneVocalizes back during interactionHeart· 2mo–8mo· core
- MilestoneCreates personal words as they begin to develop language.Mind· 8mo–20mo· core· Step 4
- MilestoneUses single meaningful wordsMind· 8mo–20mo· stretch
- MilestonePlays simple back-and-forth gamesHeart· 6mo–14mo· core· Step 3
- MilestoneProduces reduplicated babbleMind· 5mo–10mo· stretch
- MilestoneRepeats actions that have an effect, e.g. kicking or hitting a mobile or shaking a rattle.Mind· 0mo–11mo· core· Step 2
- MilestoneResponds to a speaking personHeart· 0mo–14mo· core· Step 1
- 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 3
- MilestoneReaches for nearby objectsBody· 4mo–11mo· stretch· Step 1
What it practices
- 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
- 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)
- Original guidance
- “Share the fun of discovery and value babies’ attempts at words, e.g., by picking up a doll in response to “baba”.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)