News Psychology

Babies learn some early words by touch

A caregiver’s tactile hints help 4-month-olds recognize names for body parts

FEELING WORDS  A mother holds her baby as an experimenter touches the child’s elbow during the playing of a three-syllable nonsense word. Caregivers’ well-timed touches may help infants learn words for body parts.

A. Seidl

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Awash in streams of adult chatter, babies fish out and recognize some of their first words thanks to well-timed touches from their caregivers, a new study suggests.