LittlEARS Item 25

25. Does your child imitate sounds or words you say?

Your child tries to repeat a sound after hearing it. This can be a vocalization, a word, a giggle/laugh, or a sound.

Example Situation

Your child responds to interesting words and sounds, and can sound like "baby talk". Your child tries to make sounds and facial expressions matching yours.

Used Question 25.mp4

Using the strategy of Serve & Return, you can provide an interaction (a serve) to stimulate a response (the return) from your child.

The "Serve" or the opportunity to begin a "back and forth" with your child. Parent makes an interesting noise, laugh, or interacts vocally with the baby
This is the "Return", which is when the child provides feedback to the Serve. The child smiles and giggles in response to the parent's noises and laughs.
The parent continues to "Serve" the vocalizations and the child "Returns" with smiles, laughs, vocalizations.