Just as with Montessori, the purpose of Suzuki is to create a loving relationship between child and adult, to give the child the joy of accomplishment and developed talents, and, by meeting the needs of children, to help create a more peaceful society. We discussed the best way to help children and agreed that our work must begin before birth. For the first year, the activities of changing, nursing, bathing, picking up, holding, and dressing are the most important and impressionable times. Ask permission or tell the infant that you are going to pick him up when you are about to do so. If there is a choice, ask him if he is ready to be picked up, to get dressed, nurse, have a bath, even before picking him up.
Children know when they are being asked a serious question or being given a choice.
As you change or bathe an infant, rather than distracting him with a toy, look into his eyes, tell him what you are doing, have a conversation, ask questions, and give choices. The value of this communication full of love and respect cannot be overemphasized. It makes a baby want to talk to you, and the desire to communicate is an important part of the foundation for good language development. Good language development also depends on the language the child hears going on around him in these early days, months, and years. Being with the parents and overhearing conversations between them and other adults is as valuable as being spoken to.