Little Helper

1. 1

   Ask your baby for a small helping action: “Mom is thirsty. Give Mom the cup.” If they do not respond yet, use the moment to make the request easier to understand.

2. 2

   Bring the cup close and explore it together. Let your baby look, touch, or shake it while you repeat, “This is the cup. You’re touching the cup.”

3. 3

   Place the cup within reach, point to it, and say, “Give Mom the cup.”

4. 4

   If your baby is unsure, gently guide their hand through passing the cup to you. Then take an exaggerated sip and say, “The water you gave me tastes so good!”

5. 5

   Repeat the exchange. Once it is familiar, try the same request with another known object: “Give me the ball,” or “Give me the spoon.”

What to notice

• Hands you the cup after hearing, “Give me the cup” Attending and Understanding
• Gives you the cup and looks at you happily Relationships with Adults

Tips

• At 12 months, your baby often uses your gaze, gesture, and the immediate situation along with your words to understand a request.

Developmental benefits

• Language: Your gaze, pointing, repeated key words, and demonstration help your baby connect “cup” and “give me” with the object and action in a simple request.