How can I help my toddler talk more?

You want to encourage more language at home, but where do you start?  I am going to share with you a few quick tips for encouraging language in your child.  Stay tuned for some follow-up blogs with specific examples for different parts of your day.  

Giving 2 choices:  Instead of asking an open ended question like “what do you want to play?”, give your child two specific choices for them to choose from and show them the items.  “Do you want to play with the dolls or the cars?”

Using basic sign language & gestures:  When saying single, frequently used words to your child try pairing it with a basic sign or gesture.  For example, use a sign or gesture for bubbles when labeling bubbles. 

Encourage sounds:  Whenever you are labeling animals, vehicles, and other items that make sounds encourage your child to imitate the sound it makes.  When playing with a animals point to a horse, say “horse” and “neigh”. 

Singing:  Singing is a great way for children to expand their language and to engage with a caregiver.  Once a child is familiar with a song, pause during singing to allow them to fill in the blank. 

Model language: Modeling what you want a child to say is a great way to encourage your child to say more complex phrases.  If your child wants to get up and is putting his or her hands up, model “up mommy” or “I want up”. 

Wait!!!:  This is probably the most important and hardest thing.  If you want to encourage your child to talk, you need to give an opening.  Many parents are so eager to encourage language they label everything, ask rapid questions, and continuously model phrases for the child without taking a breath.  It takes practice, but it’s important to give your child some wait time to allow for processing the message and responding to the communicator.  If you give your child two choices, model the two choices, but then give a big pause so your child has time to try the word.  You can give a big anticipatory facial expression or gesture to keep it fun.

Whenever encouraging language there is not need to demand a response from your child.  Communication should be a fun give and take!  It is better to accept your child’s best response and provide a lot of playful opportunities for language development.  Try to stay relaxed and keep it upbeat!

Now that you are armed with some new ideas, I would love to hear how they work for you.  If you are worried your child isn’t talking enough contact me anytime at 978-225-0488 or katiefourniersll@gmail.com.  I am always happy to answer any questions you have and connect you with available community resources.  If you are concerned, it is always best to talk to a professional - you don’t need to go it alone.  Happy talking!