communicate. Yvonne West, speech and language pathologist in the Department of Health discusses how imitation can help infants to communicate and gain self confidence.

One of the most important steps to encourage the growth of communication is to follow your baby's lead. When you respond consistently, your baby will learn to predict a pattern which sets the communication going. Early crying indicates possibly discomfort, but as you react to it, your baby soon learns from what you do that crying communicates a message and brings a predictable response. Before long, your baby will pause while crying as if checking to see whether you are coming. Babies need to develop confidence and curiosity.

Parents can help by becoming aware of their interests and helping them to build self-confidence. When you show encouragement, your baby will become more motivated to learn, interact and communicate. By following your baby's lead you will be able to provide information that matches his/her interests. Your baby will then focus on what interest him/her and will put a lot of effort into learning about whatever that is. If parents do not allow their baby to show his/her interest or do not follow his/her lead, they miss a prime time for learning.

If your baby is slower than others to take the initiative to act, then allow more time. Be patient and observe! While you wait, watch to see what interests your baby. Your baby might only be interested in something you are holding.

Only by taking the time to notice this, can you follow your baby's lead. Talk about the object you are holding by labelling it, describing it and getting the child to feel it. Be careful not to anticipate all your child's needs and actions. Do not simply entertain with one toy after the other. If you are making all the decisions, then you are depriving your baby of important opportunities to communicate.

You can see your baby taking the initiative more easily if both of your faces are at the same level. By allowing your baby to see your face you are providing necessary visual cues. It also puts you in a better position to follow your baby's lead and to take turns.

Let's look at what a "turn'' is in communication. A conversation is made up of a series of "turns''. I take a turn, you take a turn, then I take another turn and so on. When one partner sends a message either verbally or nonverbal, it is a "turn''. A baby's "turn'' can be a look, sound, gesture, body movement, facial expression or any combination of these. Most people think that conversations are only possible once children have learned to talk, but this is not so. We can have "conversations'' with babies too! Babies start learning about turn taking early in infancy during breast or bottle feedings, vocal play and game playing routines. Try to share your daily activities so that you and your baby take turns equally.

Imitation is a great method to increase your baby's attention and focus. By imitating you are matching their pace therefore decreasing their chance of frustration. You can imitate their sounds and actions. You are communicating at their wavelength and you are understood immediately. The message you are sending is that you are confirming what they know. You are also establishing the idea of imitating which will be important later when your baby will try to imitate you. If you sit on the sidelines watching and only talking about what you see, your baby will learn passively. Right down and enter your baby's world by sharing his/her activities and imitating; active learning will take place. And I know you will both have fun! Imitation alone is not always appropriate. Sometimes you need to interpret.

When your baby makes sounds or gestures that seem to have meaning, you should act as if you had been told something that needs a response. For example, if your baby touches an object, interpret it as a request for that object or even an attempt to show you something. Respond by giving, touching, labelling or commenting on the object. Be guided by your baby's actions in deciding whether to imitate or interpret.

Other tips to encourage communication are: use a whisper voice; make interesting noises; tape objects together; speak slowly with lots of intonation; use an animated voice, high pitch voice, an encouraging voice; sing songs; bounce them on your knee gently; open your eyes wide or lift your eyebrows to show that you expect something; let your baby see your lips move when you talk; and use rhythmical, repetitive gestures.

The single most important factor in helping your baby learn about communication is a consistent, responsive partner and that is you.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL ISSUES HTH