How To Encourage Language in your Toddler

When encouraging language there are some important elements to consider. Below are a few easy tips to help support your toddler’s language.

Attention Please! Toddlers’ attention spans vary based on their personality, development, and interests, but attention is pivotal to learning. Try sitting at their level, and using their name prior to speaking. Engage them with toys and games that are motivating and fun. Remember little steps lead to bigger steps. Even a few seconds of attention on a toy or game is a win!

Fun! Play is a toddler’s job, and they (and you) should take it seriously. Don’t be afraid to play and get silly. Try using exaggerated tones and actions. This will help bring awareness to your words and actions, and help support their understanding.

Keep it simple! Simplifying your language is key. Use short sentences and comment instead of question.

Routines! Use routines like bath time, meals, and bedtime to reinforce language. We all learn by doing, and routines provide an opportunity for repeated exposure to vocabulary. For example, use bath toys to work on vocabulary (e.g., farm animals, sea animals, etc) or provide choices of two snacks to work on requesting. Routines offer an endless opportunity to both reinforce and incorporate new language.

Choices! Provide simple choices to your child when able. This allows them to request items. If you give them a choice between water and juice, and they say ‘juice’, you can then model ‘I want juice’. This is called recasting, and is a useful tool to encourage language growth.

Give them time! Give your child time to respond and look at them as they think. They may have a lot to say, but need a bit more time to say it.

I hope these tips help!

Best,

Maggie