The guest host must have a baby because he asked questions that I wouldn't expect at 20-year-old man to ask.

Babies will repeat words and phrases that get big reactions.

If the very first time the baby says "oh sh*t" there is no particular reaction, it represents a miss.

If the adults react, the baby will reuse the word or phrase.

I look forward to hearing Ms Gopnik interviewed some time soon by a host who doesn't sound like he's overdosed on Red Bull and self-absorption.

It's bad enough that the mornings have been taken over by let's-talk-so-fast-that-we-constantly-stumble-on-our-own-words crowd (the Takeaway), but now when Brian is out, we have to get this speed-freak? If you can't get through an interview without rushing, try squeezing less stuff in.

The subject matter deserved some breathing space for listeners, to, you know, maybe think a little?

Questions from a mom of an 11-month-old boy:

I feel guilty sometimes about not religiously using Baby Einstein and Your Baby Can Read DVDs and other forced learning tools, as well as just leaving him to play with toys when he seems perfectly content to do so alone. I prefer to follow his lead. Will he miss out?

I guess there's truth in the saying Play is the work of childhood!

I think we do the hardest work of our lives in our first 2-3 years. Just as Dr. Gopnik said, we have to learn how the world works, how language works, how our own bodies work (& then just as we think we have that last one figured out, it all changes!).

About babies reading faces and the husband returning home stressed out. While you shouldn't be false, wouldn't a constant rejection or discouraging facial expression possible result in turning the baby away from his father -- sort of learning that Daddy doesn't want to see me so I won't be excited any more. Especially in the pre-verbal stage.

As my mom occasionally reminds me, my first word was "uh-oh!" which I would exclaim immediately before dropping my dinner on the floor, a look of glee on my face.

I was trained as a Montessori teacher many years ago. An integral part of Montessori training is learning to observe children in the classroom. There is nothing more intersting and instructive than just watching infants and toddlers playing and exploring on their own or with others. It teaches so much about human behavior, interaction as well as social and intellectual development. We should all learn to observe more.

My 5 1/2 month old keeps lifting up her crib mirror. Is it possible she is looking for the baby behind it?
Also why so incredibly intrigued with the iphone and computer?

I had the pleasure of talking to Dr. Gopnik at a conference once and she is one of the most intelligent people I've met.

I have one question for her:
How much does she believe in Theory Theory over Simulation Theory and does she believe that Simulation Theory and Theory Theory are almost the same thing when we try to implement it in artificial intelligence?