Tip 167: 1 year old baby learning names of others

By 1 year old, the baby should already be familiar with her own name. When you call her name or talk about her, she would listen more attentively, even if she does not understand fully what is being talked about. She knows its a conspiracy about her. After 1 year old, when the baby begins to speak, she may begin to use her name. This is especially when she has developed a concept of self. This is me and this is mine. She recognizes her face on the mirror, she knows that she sleeps at a certain pillow and wears shoes that are different from others. Haruka could say, "This is Haruka's, this is papa's, this is mama's". As well as in Japanese, Kore Harukano. Yet, how does a baby understand the meaning and concept of the word 'name'? It is difficult to teach the baby how to answer the question,"What is your name?" or "What is my name?". Yet, persistency in teaching pays.












Whenever I am walking to a destination for 10 up to 30 minutes while carrying Haruka, I would talk to her. Her ear is just below my chin so she can hear me clearly. So, one day I was teaching her the phrase, "What is your name? My name is Haruka" as I pointed to her. She repeated the last word of my question, and said name, as well as the second sentence with the reply "Haruka". But, when I ask her the question, she keeps repeating after me and not providing the answer I was hoping for. Yet, I tried it at a few other walking trips.












Then, one day, she answered with her name! I did not stop. I taught her the phrase, "What is papa name? Papa name is Philip. What is mama name? Mama name is Tomomi." She understood and answered correctly, though my name is pronounced by her even till today as flip. Then, to my amazement, she remembered our names at another walking trip when I quized her. I now focused on speed.












Later, the Sunday School teacher at Tokyo, called her Ann and her name tag was written as Ann. So, I asked Haruka her name and she said Ann. I told her that her name is Lee Haruka Ann. She repeated after me correctly as she now understood why the teacher called her Ann! I told her my name is Lee Philip and mama's name is Lee Tomomi. She repeated correctly sometimes. Though, she has not been consistently saying our full names yet. Maybe one day she would.












Little by little, the baby can start learning names of others once they understand the concept of a name. Then, longer and proper names can be taught. Try it.












(Photo shows Hakone overlooking the faint Mount Fuji on a not so clear day. Though, it could have been worse if it was covered with mist. Also showing the sulphurous Owakudani geiser valley along the Hakone ropeway ride at 1050 meters. There is tradition to eat an egg boiled there to add seven extra years to your life.)