English   
Read Aloud Tips Books About Us News and Events Resources
Ten Benefits of Reading
to Your Baby
Eight Baby Read-Aloud
Principles
Six Baby Read-Aloud
Stages from Birth
to Two
The Difference Between
Reading to Babies and Older Children
Features of Parentese
Literacy Begins at Birth
Questions & Answers
Contact Us
Caroline is available for talks about the importance of reading to babies. She also contributes to on-line magazines on the subject of language and literacy development.
Contact Caroline


Read-Aloud Basics - Features of Parentese
Parentese helps babies learn language. It makes
your words easier for baby to hear.

Parentese is not baby talk (oo es da cootest witto baby in da wold), which is unintelligible. Parentese makes language more intelligible. Parents from all over the world naturally use parentese with infants and babies. Many parents are not aware of using it. Next time you talk or read to your baby, notice how you naturally change your tone, rhythm, and pitch even if very subtly.
When speaking or reading to their babies, parents:
Position their faces close to baby's face (eight inches for newborns)
Use shorter utterances
Speak in an exaggerated melodious tone
Articulate clearly
Vary and raise their pitch (as much as an octave)
Frequently use repetition
Use exaggerated facial expressions (eye contact, raising eyebrows, big smiles)
Move their bodies rhythmically
Lengthen vowels (sooooo cuuuuute)
Use shorter sentences
Use longer pauses
Put unfamiliar words on ends of sentences for stress
Give positive feedback and loving attention (in response to babble)
HOME | READ-ALOUD BASICS | OUR BOOKS | ABOUT US | NEWS | RESOURCES
©2006–2016 Read To Your Baby, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Ten Benefits of Reading to Your Baby

Eight Baby Read-Aloud Principles

Six Read-Aloud Stages from Birth to Two

Features of Parentese

Literacy Begins at Birth

Questions & Answers

Our Books

Other Authors Books

About The Authors

About RTYB.com

Contact Us

Testimonials

Site Credits

Useful Websites

Language/Literacy Development

Resource Books

Video Clips