ABSTRACT
Adults and older children may play enjoyable games with toddlers to help them to learn names and labels. The smiles, sounds and gestures that the babies offer provide instant gratification and encourage the communication to continue as it is rewarding for all participants. Some toddlers who are unwilling to speak to adults or older children may find their voices when they spend time in the company of babies. If adults offer small responses to show that they are listening and interested when children speak, they are more likely to continue to make the effort to communicate effectively. The safety of very young children is paramount and the toys and equipment offered to them must be age appropriate, particularly if they may play unsupervised for short periods. There are many degrees of hearing impairment and some children may suffer from mild or moderate hearing loss, while others have more severe hearing loss or are totally deaf.
