There are a lot of options out there when it comes to helping

your baby's development along, including piping Mozart to your

child in the womb or teaching her to sign shortly after she's

born. But you're still giving your baby a great start just by

providing her with the building blocks she'll need to learn to

read.

Just about all the important things that modern science

suggests when it comes to helping your baby's brain develop

have been practiced by parents for millennia. Now as ever,

these steps are important:

Sing to your baby. Babies and toddlers love rhyme almost as

much as they love the soothing sound of your voice.

Talk to your baby. Even when your baby is tiny, talk to her as

if she already understands what you're saying. Use gestures,

body language and tone of voice to keep her attention and

dramatize your message.

Imitate your baby. When she makes those first experimental

sounds, make them back to her. Your baby will feel how

important she is to you, and get excited by the effort of

language.

Play "where's the?" games. Ask your baby, "Where's your toes?"

"Find" her toes and touch them, then switch the playing field

to her fingers or nose.

Touch your baby. Whenever possible, hold your baby in your lap

and cuddle her while you talk or sing to her. Even when she's

much older, she'll still associate the warmth and coziness of

this early experience with language.

Start out with books. Even as early as six weeks of age, you

can start introducing books to your baby. Pick bright, tactile

books with clear pictures of things your baby might recognize,

like puppies or cribs. Sturdy books they can touch or pet are

ideal; look for classic "touch-and-feel" titles like Baby

Animal Kisses or Pat the Bunny. The classic fabric "Quiet

Book," with its embroideries, braids, buckles and buttons, is

an unbeatable way to interest a slightly older baby. Cuddle

your baby in your lap and read for short periods of time, so it

never becomes arduous for either you or her.