Here we see Monika and her daughter Svara enjoying playing at home. Simple play like this is a wonderful opportunity to encourage your child's early communication. Mum and baby are taking turns rolling and passing the ball to one another and they are also taking turns 'talking' to each other. What we are seeing is a beautiful verbal and nonverbal conversation between mother and baby.
Monika is really good at reading Svara's mind. Monika asks Svara, 'Do you want to give Mummy the yellow ball?' but she notices that Svara has her eye on something else and is reaching instead towards the blue ball in Monika's hand. Monika notices this, reads Svara's mind and says 'Oh you want it back' and hands Svara what she wanted.
Noticing and responding to your child's cues in this way is what psychologists call 'Maternal Mind-Mindedness' and has been shown to be a great way to encourage babies' early language as well as their emotional development.
