Who's That? Family Photo Chat
Parent shows family photos to baby and names familiar people, encouraging early word attempts and sound imitation. The agent coaches the parent to observe baby's attempts to label caregivers, imitate simple words, and engage in back-and-forth communication — building early language foundations through meaningful social interaction.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Parent and baby sitting together on floor or soft surface. 3-5 family photos within reach (clear pictures of familiar people). Baby should be alert and engaged. Room should be quiet with minimal distractions.
How it works
- 1~30s
Start by showing your child a picture of yourself. Hold it where they can see it clearly and say 'That's mama!' or 'That's papa!' with a warm, clear voice. Then pause and watch your child's face closely. Does they try to repeat the word? You might hear 'ma-ma' or 'pa-pa' attempts, or see their mouth moving as if practicing. Tell me what you notice.
Watch for: Baby attempts to label familiar caregivers with approximations like 'mama' or 'papa' when shown their picture.
- 2~35s
Now show your child a picture of another familiar person — maybe grandma, grandpa, or another caregiver. Say their name clearly, like 'That's grandma!' or 'That's Alex!' Then wait and give your child time to respond. Watch for any attempt to copy the word, even if it's just part of it. Does they try to repeat 'gran' or 'Al-ex'? Or does they use a simpler sound like 'ga-ga'?
Watch for: Baby attempts to imitate words parent says, even with simplified versions or partial words.
- 3~40s
Let's try a specific sound pattern. Show your child a picture and say 'That's papa!' with emphasis on the 'pa' sound. Then say just the syllable 'pa-pa-pa' in a rhythmic, playful way. Make eye contact and watch your child's mouth. Does they try to copy that 'pa' sound specifically? You might see their lips coming together in imitation. Try a few times and see if they joins in.
Watch for: Baby imitates specific consonant-vowel sounds like 'pa', 'ma', or 'ba' after parent models them.