5 Things I would Do if my toddler wasn’t talking yet!
As a parent, it’s natural to wonder when your child will say their first words. While every child develops at their own pace, most babies say their first word around 12 months. By 18 months, many toddlers have around 10-50 words, and by 24 months, they should start combining two words like, “more juice” or “big truck”.
If your toddler isn’t talking yet, there are many ways to support their communication skills. Here are five things I would do to help:
Model, Model, Model!
Children learn language by hearing it! If your child isn’t talking yet, keep talking to them throughout the day. You can narrate what you’re doing, label objects, and use simple, repetitive phrases. If your child is playing with a car you might say, “Car! The car goes vroom! Beep beep! Car is blue! Car go! Car stop! The more they hear word in context, the more likely they are to use them.
Offer Choices
Instead of asking open ended questions like, “What do you want?” (which can be overwhelming), given your child two choices. For example, hold up an apple and a banana and say “Do you want apple or banana?”. If your child reaches for one, label it: “Apple! You want apple!” This help them connect words with meaning and encourages them to communicate.
Encourage Gestures
Gestures are a HUGE part of early communication. If your toddler isn’t using words yet, look for gestures like pointing, waving, or reaching. You can encourage gestures by modeling them yourself. When you say “bye-bye” wave as you say it If your child wants a snack, encourage them to point or reach instead of just grabbing. Research shows that children who use more gestures tend to develop spoken language faster! Encourage all forms of communication! And gestures ARE communication!
Introduce Simple Signs
Using baby sign language can help bridge the gap while your child is learning to talk. Signs like “more”, “all done”, “eat”, and “help” give toddlers a way to express their needs before they can say words. Don’t worry—using sign won’t delay speech! In fact, it often helps children start talking sooner because they learn the power of communication!
Stop Asking So Many Questions!
It’s tempting to as, “What’s that?” “Can you say dog?” “What color is this?”, but too many questions can feel like a test. Instead try making comments instead of questions. Instead of “What’s this?” while pointing to a dog, simple say, “Dog! The dog is so big! Wow” This takes the pressure off your child and given them a good model of how to use language.
When to seek support
If your child is 18 months old and not saying any words or 24 months old and not combining words, its a good idea to talk to a speech-language pathologist. Early intervention can make a huge difference!
Need help supporting your toddler’s speech?
At Northern Star Therapy, we specialize in play-based, parent friendly speech therapy to help toddlers find their voice. If you’re concerned about your child’s speech and language development, reach out for a free consultation! We’d love to connect with you!
