ESL Podcast 787 - Speaking to a Baby or Young Child
to look after - to take care of someone, especially a child
Could you look after the kids for a minute while I go to the store?
twins - two children who have the same mother and were born at the same time, sometimes identical (with the same physical appearance)
Twins are so much work! Whenever one of them finally falls asleep, the other one wants to eat or needs a clean diaper.
over (one's) head - in a situation that is too difficult or challenging, without the skills or experience needed to succeed in that situation
Oliver knew the job would be difficult, but he realized he was over his head when he couldn't understand the financial reports he was supposed to summarize.
beddy-bye - a word used with children to talk about going to bed and falling asleep
You need to go beddy-bye by eight o'clock, or your parents will be mad when they get home.
jammies - a word used with children to talk about pajamas, or clothes worn while sleeping
Noura always wants to wear her favorite jammies with pictures of rabbits.
binkie - a word used with children to talk about a pacifier, or a small piece of plastic that a baby or young child puts in the mouth and sucks on for comfort, similar to drinking from a bottle or nursing (drinking milk from a mother's breast)
The dentists said that using a binkie can be bad for children's teeth.
blankie - a word used with children to talk about a blanket, especially a favorite blanket that the child uses to comfort himself or herself
Ali's blankie has been washed so many times that it's starting to fall apart, but we can't get rid of it because it helps him fall asleep.
night-night - a word used with children to talk about going to bed and falling asleep; good night
You can play for five more minutes, and then it's time to brush your teeth and go night-night.
potty - a word used with children to talk about needing to go to the bathroom, use the toilet, and/or urinate (pee; pass liquid out of one's body)
Jasmine, do you need to use the potty before we go into the theater?
owie - a word used with children to talk about an injury or a painful part on one's body
Ewan held up his hurt finger and told his mother to kiss his owie.
tummy - a word used with children to talk about one's abdominal area or stomach
Ben likes to lift up his shirt and show everyone his tummy.
boo-boo - a word used with children to talk about an injury or a painful part on one's body
Yessina, how did you get that boo-boo on your forehead?
icky - unpleasant, unattractive, undesirable, and gross
If you don't like the way something tastes, just leave it on your plate, but don't say that it's icky, or you might hurt the cook's feelings.
teensy-weensy - a word used with children to describe something that is very small or short
How can you be scared of such a teensy-weensy spider?
band-aid - adhesive bandage; a sticky piece of fabric or plastic with gauze (absorbent cotton) in the middle, placed on one's skin over and around a cut to keep the area clean and help the skin heal more quickly
The doctor put a band-aid on Alyssa's arm after giving her a shot.
no-no - a word used with children to talk about something they should not do or cannot have; not allowed
Hitting other people is a no-no.
oopsie-daisy - a phrased used with children when one has made a mistake or something didn't happen as one had planned
Oopsie-daisy! Next time, please be more careful so your milk doesn't spill.
to learn (one's) lesson - to learn from a difficult, awkward, or unpleasant personal experience and understand what one should or should not do in the future to avoid repeating that experience
I offered to pay for Brandon's dinner, but I didn't know he'd order the most expensive bottle of wine in the restaurant. I've learned my lesson.