Q: My one-year-old often plays with the same toy over and over or wants to hear the same story over and over. Is this normal?

A: Telling the same stories and singing the same songs over and over may feel boring to you, but for a young child, learning happens with repetition. When you read, give each of the characters its own interesting voice. This gives your baby the chance to hear different sounds, pitches, and tones of language.  It also helps babies learn how to make sounds with their own voices.