Infants make sounds that imitate the tones and rhythms of adult talk.
Children's literacy development also can be observed through their use of literacy materials. After babies can purposefully grasp and manipulate objects, books and writing tools become a part of their exploration. Infants between 8 and 12 months who are read to regularly progress from mouthing books to playing with the covers to turning pages. As children continue to develop as language users, they learn the grammatical structure of their language, expand their vocabulary, and gain metalinguistic skills. Young children also use their language in connection with literacy events, providing an opportunity for researchers and caregivers to observe their ideas about literacy.