Language and Learning

Babies learn from their parents, siblings, extended family members, and the place where they spend the most time. Babies who are deaf or hard of hearing are surrounded by caring individuals and opportunities to learn.

Providing a rich learning environment for your baby can present a challenge; the experience you may have gotten from your own childhood or from bringing up other children suddenly seems inadequate. Actually, what your deaf or hard of hearing baby learns in your family will be very similar to what hearing children learn. With a few adjustments, you can help your baby learn those important lessons that only a family can provide.

Share, Communicate, and Show Respect to Model Values

Young children learn family values from watching the ways parents and other family members treat them. If your family values include sharing, communicating, and respect, then those values will be observable in your child's environment.

• Use language to make your values CLEAR and accessible.
• Use language to make any spiritual values clear and accessible to your child.
• You would be surprised at how early children begin to notice family values and benefit from simple language about them.

Encourage Your Child to Do the Same

It is not easy for little ones to share. When you see a situation like this one, use gentle reminders.

Examples of Modeling Values for Young Children

Young child is roughly brushing a doll's hair.

"Remember, gentle brushing. You love your dolly. Let me show you gentle brushing. Just like you like it. Now you try."

Toddler sits quietly in high chair as mom lets the first bite cool.

"You waited patiently. Thank you for waiting. Now the food is cool."

Mom warns sibling to use his words instead of hitting.

"I told your brother to use his words. Hitting hurts. Words show respect."

Dad puts his socks in the laundry basket when he takes them off.

"Putting things where they belong is helpful. We all help each other."

Young child offers to share cookie.

"Sharing is nice. You are sweet to your brother. He likes that."