How to talk to your baby

For some mums, chatting to their little ones comes naturally, but for others, it can feel daunting to talk to a tiny baby - what an earth should they say?! However, experts know that talking is one of the most important skills your baby will learn and mums and dads especially, have an important role to play in helping their children learn to communicate.

The more you talk with and listen to your baby, the more you help him learn, develop good relationships, do well at school and be a confident, happy child. For those worrying about how or what they will say to their baby, help is at hand! Cathy Hamer, Director of policy at the National Literacy Trust.

1. When should I start talking to my baby?

Cathy Hamer: You can't start early enough!  Getting to know your baby starts before birth.  As you feel your baby move, start talking to your bump and encourage your partner to do the same. Your baby can already hear your voice.  Research shows that when babies are born they recognise their mother's voice and first language compared to other languages. Singing and talking will help your baby recognise your voice after birth.

Your baby will find your voice reassuring and enjoy it when you smile and talk. You can give your child the best possible start in life by communicating with you baby - talking, listening and responding to your baby's sounds and expressions. By making a connection with your baby from the earliest possible opportunity you are starting a lifelong conversation that will benefit both of you more than you can begin to imagine.

2. I'm a first time parent and really have very little idea when my child will begin to develop language.  Where can I go to find out more?

Cathy Hamer: Babies are sociable from birth and will use a range of ways to attract attention. Your baby's first cry is the beginning of communication. As you look into your baby's eyes share your thoughts and wait for a response.  Always respond when your baby is trying to communicate. Your baby's first smile shows he wants you to engage. Babies make social contact through their facial expressions, movements, gestures and words. This is the first step in learning to talk.

The National Literacy Trust's www.talktoyourbaby.org.uk website for parents has free fact sheets that you can download outlining the typical milestones in a baby and young child's language development. 

There's also lots of hints and tips on talking with your baby as well as activities - such as songs, colouring sheets and nursery rhymes and ways of sharing books - to stimulate chat and develop your child's language.
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'I was in modelling school by age 12'

She was on a visit to India to promote South African tourism. And for someone who loves travelling herself, Miss South Africa 2010 Nicole Flint is overwhelmed by how much her own culture has in common with India.
In a quick chat with rediff, right before she flew off to Delhi for a road show, she spoke about herself, her learning experiences and what it has meant to be part of the fashion industry.
The leggy looker, who started out in the fashion industry really young, says that the most important thing for anyone is to stay true to themselves.
"There might be a lot of people who want to get you to do something that you don't feel comfortable with -- and it is important that you stick to your ground and be firm," she says. "For me, modelling is about having fun, taking up assignments that I enjoy. And it is not about trying to change yourself to become someone else for anybody else's sake," she says.
Flint, who has studied radio and television also plans to earn a degree in business administration from March this year.
Not surprisingly, she's never taken modelling as a pressurising career. Instead, she does it for the love of it and plans to stay around only for as long as she wishes.
Since she was also studying at the time when she began to work, the beauty says that she always had something else to pursue alongside modelling. "That's helped me to only do the work that I like -- and the work that I enjoy."
And now that she hopes to go back to studying, Flint is quite confident that she will always be left with the option at some later stage to start her own enterprise.

Information source- http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-glamour-interview-with-miss-south-africa-nicole-flint/20110210.htm