Baby Talk Newsletter August 2021

Baby Talk: Resources to Support the People Who Work with Infants and Toddlers 
Issue No. 123  August 2021
Baby Talk Newsletter August 2021 pdf

BabyTalk is a free, one-way listserv that is distributed monthly. Each issue features high quality, readily available, and free resources. Resources in Spanish are in green on this blog post (highlighted in yellow on the pdf). All or part of BabyTalk may be freely shared or copied. To subscribe to BabyTalk, or for more information, please contact Camille Catlett at camille.catlett@unc.edu

Beyond “Good Job” – Praise that Pulls for a Child’s Growth and Development

Praise is a funny thing. Words of acknowledgment can help children grow into confident, capable adults or they can set a child up to seek approval rather than true accomplishment. To learn how to use praise to support a child’s growth and development click here: https://earlylearningnation.com/2021/06/beyond-good-job-praise-that-pulls-for-a-childs-growth-and-development/

Goodnight, Buenas Noches: Foreign Language Lullabies Help Babies Relax Too

A 2020 study found that even infants can appreciate a good lullaby sung in a foreign language. Researchers at Harvard University revealed that American babies still relaxed after being played unfamiliar lullabies sung in other languages. Read more at https://www.studyfinds.org/foreign-language-lullabies-help-babies/or check out this site to search for lullabies in different languages https://www.lullabiesoftheworld.org/

From Feelings to Friendships: Nurturing Healthy Social-Emotional Development in the Early Years

Through supportive relationships, young children can explore the world, develop empathy, and understand the difference between right and wrong. This video provides strategies for developing a strong bond and nurturing relationship with your child. View the video in English or Spanish at https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/30-from-feelings-to-friendships-nurturing-healthy-social-emotional-development-in-the-early-years

Scientists from the Start: Babies Are More Thoughtful, More Analytical than You’d Ever Imagine

From the very beginning, says Dr. Alison Gopnik, head of the Cognitive Development and Learning Lab at the University of California/Berkeley, human infants are driven by the desire to find out. Their investigations are not random but are driven by the same mechanisms that scientists use to develop theories, she says. Babies are exploring their world in ways that are exquisitely intelligent and sensitive. Interested? Read more at https://earlylearningnation.com/2021/06/scientists-from-the-start-babies-are-more-thoughtful-more-analytical-than-youd-ever-imagine/

Brain Boost for Babies Growing Up With More Than One Language

For young children of bilinguals, there are surprising differences in how they learn about languages and the world starting at a young age. Researchers found, for example, that beginning at six months bilingual babies had more flexible memories than those who had parents who spoke only one language. Eventually, the researchers added, all children have memory flexibility. To learn more about the advantages watch this video in English or Spanish :https://positiveparentingnews.org/news-reports/brain-boost-for-bilingual-babies/

GUMDROP: Show Your Child That You Value Her Feelings

This gumdrop illustrates how recognizing emotions can teach children how to acknowledge and handle feelings. Take a look at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPCPCyQJ6oQ