Says number names when talking and playing
Your child might have shown some awareness of numbers and counting for a little while, perhaps imitating the rhythm and intonation of counting. As they become more aware that words can be used to represent different things, they might begin to use number names as they play.
Can match a picture of an object with a real object
Your child will have been using objects to represent other objects and might also have shown some awareness of the difference between toy objects and real objects. This recognition of the difference between objects is a first step towards developing an understanding of symbolic representation.
Plays with soft toys or dolls recreating real life situations
Your baby is interested in the people around them, and as their memory develops and they have a wider range of experiences you might notice them recreating familiar situations when playing with soft toys or dolls. This play is the first step towards pretend and fantasy play and supports your baby to explore familiar situations and think about the things they have noticed.
May be friendly towards strangers, but more cautious if they come close to them
Your baby’s curiosity is growing and manifesting itself in a wider range of ways. Their fascination for people and interaction is continuing to grow and evolve.
May show displeasure or try to resume interaction when play or other interaction ends
Over the past few months your baby has experienced many styles of interactions with you and other familiar people. They are active participants in these interactions and relationships, as their brains make meaning from what you and other familiar people do. [1]
Enjoys being held and swung, bounced or rocked quite vigorously
A natural response as a parent is to sooth your baby by swinging, bouncing or rocking them from side to side. This innate reaction is no coincidence as it has been proven that it has comforting and self-regulatory properties [1]. Starting in the womb, babies become consoled by their mothers’ movements and continue to enjoy these actions for sleep and play right throughout their first years. Even as adults, we can continue to find regulatory properties in rhythmic motions. For example, some of us might find that we feel relaxed and even sleepy whilst on a train or a bus.
Uses their hands to move food or drink split on the table, watches their hands and the food as they move
Your baby’s senses started to develop before birth and as they have had more experiences your baby will be bringing together information from their senses to understand themselves and the world. You will notice this combining of information when you watch your child as they explore a new texture with their hands. They will watch the movement of their hands, the marks made as they explore, and move in different ways to see the effect. When they do this your baby combines information from their vision touch and proprioceptive (body) senses.
Uses a combination of sounds when speaking, rather than repeating the same sounds
Up until now you will have heard your baby repeating consonant / vowel sounds. The sounds will have been short with very little differentiation of sound in each vocalisation e.g. ‘da, da, da’. It is likely that your baby is becoming much more attentive to you and your interactions have become more frequent.
Beginning to understand some words and responds to the tone of your voice
Your baby hears and recognises familiar voices in the womb even before you give birth. [1] They were able to tune into voices and listen to the tones and speech patterns they were hearing as soon as they were born; this is how your baby learned that words have meaning. Now that they are a bit older, they're starting to connect understanding to the words.
Pushes onto hands and knees
Your baby may have been experimenting with pushing themselves up using their arms whilst playing on their tummy. Their arms, core and neck and becoming stronger, giving them more control over their body and movements.
