Related Early Childhood Sites

- California Early Childhood Mentor Program (CECMP)Mentorship and leadership program that strengthens the early learning & care workforce by connecting experienced professionals with those new to the field
- California Early Childhood Online (CECO)Online learning system offers professional development modules for early childhood educators
- California Early Learning VideosVideo resources demonstrating best practices in early childhood education
- California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN)Provides professional development, instructional support and resources for preschool educators
- CDSS LEAD Office Quality InitiativesProfessional Development and coaching resources to strengthen early childhood program administration
- Child Development Training Consortium (CDTC)Provides services, training, and career advancement resources for early childhood students and professionals
- Family Child Care at Its Best (FCCB)Research-based workshops for family child care providers to improve quality care
- Personalized Oral Language Learning (POLL) StrategiesStrategies to support and strengthen multilingual learning and language development for dual languages learners from infancy through preschool in all early learning and care settings
- Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC)Training and resources specifically focused on quality care for infants and toddlers
- All About Young ChildrenTools and resources to support families’ understanding of young children’s development and early learning
- My Child Care PlanTool for families to search and find licensed child care options
- Resource and Referral NetworkHelps connect families find child care and provides support to child care providers. Provides support to child care providers such as training, licensing guidance, and quality improvement
- TrustlineBackground check system for nannies, babysitters, and license- exempt child care providers
- Beginning TogetherResources for inclusive practices supporting children with disabilities and their families
- California Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation NetworkSupports mental health and well-being for young children through consultation services, resources and training activities for child care and early education providers in all settings
- California Making Access Possible (MAP) to Inclusion and BelongingProvides a clearinghouse of resources to support the inclusion of young children with disabilities or delays in child care, preschool, or out-of-school time programs
- California Teaching PyramidSystematic framework, training, and resources for supporting social-emotional development and addressing challenging behaviors
- CDSS DLL ResourcesStrategies and tools to support dual language learners and promote multilingual development in early childhood settings
- CDSS Early Learning PublicationsEarly Learning publications and resources from the California Department of Social Services
- CDSS QIS RevisionsUpdates and guidance on California’s Quality Improvement System revisions
- CompSATEarly learning and care self-assessment toolkit that accompanies the ECE Competencies
- Desired Results (DR) Field TrainingStatewide trainings that help early childhood administrators and staff use the Desired Results system and DRDP assessment tool to improve child development outcomes
- Quality Counts California (QCC)California’s quality improvement system (QIS) for early learning programs

Your child from Birth–4 Months

Language Development

How do children develop language?

How do children develop language?

Listening to voices and sounds
Looking at or touching faces
Cooing
Smiling and vocalizing

Each child develops at their own pace and may show some skills earlier or later than others; the videos provide a few examples of how children may demonstrate these skills and concepts.

When to Seek Support

How do children learn language through interactions with others?

Children make sense of language through interactions and communication with their caregivers in their home language or any other language they are developing. Children look toward or touch the face of caregivers, recognize familiar voices, and notice other sounds.

What do you notice about how close the caregivers and children are to each other as they interact?

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How do children express their needs early in life?

Children express their needs through sounds, such as crying or make cooing sounds like “ahhh” with their mouths.

What do you notice about the variety of sounds the children make?

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How do children experience stories, books, and rhymes?

Children begin to learn from literacy experiences by listening to caregivers sign or read, or watching caregivers sign or tell a story.

How are the children responding as the caregivers read and sign?

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Select a different age period within the domain Language Development

What else is your child learning from birth–4 months?

Additional Resources

When to Seek Support

Infant–Toddler Videos