Babies ‘learn words for what they like’

LIKE teenagers, babies don’t much care what their parents say.

Though they are learning words at 10 months old, infants tend to grasp the names of objects that interest them rather than what the speaker thinks is important, a study has found.

The infants were able to learn two new words in five minutes with just five presentations for each word and object, said study leader Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology.

The babies paired a new word to the object they liked best, regardless of the object the speaker referred to.

“The baby naturally assumes the word you’re speaking goes with the object they think is interesting, not the object that you show an interest in,” Ms Hirsh-Pasek said.

Later, at around 18 months, children learn to use the speaker’s interest - such as where the eyes gaze - as a guide to learning, the researchers say.

Still, Ms Hirsh-Pasek thinks there is a lesson for parents and educators of children at all ages.

“Sometimes we fail to take notice of what our learners are doing and what they’re interested in.

“We all learn best when things are meaningful.”