The more you chat with your child, the more opportunities they’re likely to have to learn how to talk.
Make sure you give your child enough time to learn as every child is unique and they have a different learning style and pace.
But make it clear in mind that all children are different and learn to talk at different rates.
Here’s a list of ways to encourage your child to speak.
• Talk as much and as often as you can with your little one, when you’re at home and when you’re out and about. Research shows that the more you talk to your child, the better they’ll become at using and understanding language. When they speak to you, try to give them your undivided attention, if you can. It will encourage them to keep talking!
• Focus on what your toddler is trying to say, rather than on how clearly they are pronouncing their words. Nodding, smiling and responding to them will help them feel more confident about talking to you.
• When they use words, give them plenty of praise. For example, you could tell them “Yes, that’s right; it is a spoon – well done!”
• Get your toddler’s attention by saying their name and making eye contact with them. This will make them understand that you’re talking to them.
• Introduce your toddler to situations where they can learn exciting new words. Take them on the bus or for a walk. You can also show them pictures in books and talk together about what you can see.
• Give them plenty of opportunities to talk during everyday activities. If you ask him/her a question, leave a good pause, so that they have time to answer you.
• Repeat back what you hear your toddler trying to say to you, even if they don’t say it clearly. Expand on what they say. So if your child says “nana” when she/he wants a banana, you could say “Yes, here’s a banana.”
• Use objects and signals to help your little one understand the situation, as well as the words involved. For example, when you ask your little one, “Would you like mango or an apple?” show them both the fruits while saying each of those names, so that they realize the difference between both, and that there is a choice to be made.
• Help your toddler to focus their attention on what you’re saying to them, by switching off unnecessary background noise such as the TV or radio. Young ones find it harder to filter out background noise than adults.
Have you had success with any of these suggestions for encouraging speech in toddlers? We would love to hear your success stories as well as any suggestions of strategies that have worked for you.
