Seeing other children babbling in a cute tone with their parents might break your heart if your toddler has not learned to talk yet. You must be tired of scrolling through the conflicting advice on how to help toddlers talk on forum threads as well.
It’s common for some kids to start talking late, but it’s important not to ignore the warning signs. As per the survey, the leading factor of communication disorders in children is, in fact, lack of awareness about red flags of this issue.
As a toddler’s mum, I know your struggle. Here are some expert-suggested tips to teach toddlers to talk.
Practical Strategies to Encourage Talking in Kids
1. Narrate the Boring, Regular Stuff to Build Their Vocab
Playing in your backyard? Describe the regular objects like trees, grass, birds, and clouds to them. Tell them how they look.
Even if you take them for a walk, describe the actions they are doing. For example, “Let’s put on your red shoes!”
It will help them learn to express what they are doing.
2. Singalong Nursery Rhymes and Read Books With Them
Playfully singing easy rhymes and dancing with them enhances their mood, memory, and coordination.
Reading aesthetically pleasing books as a part of their bedtime routine will enhance their interest. Ask them questions in between by pointing out the different pictures of the story.
3. Ask Questions and Offer Choices
The most effective way to encourage toddlers to talk is to ask open-ended questions. Like, “What should we do next?” and “Want the red cup or blue cup?”. It will help toddlers to talk more.
Even if they don’t respond to you with one-word answers, praise their gestures and expressions equally, it is a significant improvement as well.
4. Play, Joke, and Laugh With Them
When you play and joke with your toddler, it helps them pick words and expressions.
For instance, tickling, making funny faces, or exaggerated falls make toddlers laugh and mimic sounds and words. In this way, toddlers engage more when they’re having fun, making them eager to communicate.
5. Lastly, Be Patient and Wait for Their Response
It can be painful and challenging for parents to see their child struggling with simple words and gestures. But that’s where your patience is needed.
So, cut them some slack if they’re progressing slowly. Just like they learned to walk, they’ll figure out talking too!
When do Toddlers Start Talking? Children’s Speech Development Timeline
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the first 3 years of the toddler is the most important period to acquire language skills.
Here is the general timeline for the kid’s speech development journey.
| Age | Milestones |
| 12-18 Months | Say 2-3 simple words and label persons/objects (like mama, dada, ball)Use gestures to communicate. Give strong non-verbal cues. |
| 18-24 Months | Unclear words but a growing vocabulary Begins using “me,” “mine,” or “you” (maybe incorrect initially). Understand when someone calls them by their name |
| 2-3 Years | Make 3–4 word sentences (e.g., “I want juice” or “Where is the cat?”). Asks “what,” “where,” and “why.” too much. Use plurals of simple words frequently. |
| 3-4 Years | Can speak most of the words correctly but with a little distorted pronunciations. Understand prepositions (“under,” “behind”). Sometimes struggles with l, r, th, and sh sounds. |
Common Challenges That You Might Face & Their Solutions
As a working mother of a toddler, it can be tough to look after your kid, especially when he needs your help learning to talk.
Somedays, you will feel excited; other days, you will feel gloomy, and you might think your kid will never speak clearly. But actually, it is all part of the process. You should not feel guilty about it.
Following are some challenges that parents like you have faced and successfully combat them.
Challenge # 1
The toddler uses very few words or seems stuck at a certain stage.
What to do?
- Narrate daily chores more frequently.
- Ask simple, one-word answer questions.
- Sing songs with gestures.
Challenge # 2
It can be tough for parents to keep toddlers engaged in language learning activities due to the kid’s short attention span.
What to do?
Be more creative with your language-learning games.
Challenge # 3
The toddler mispronounces words frequently.
What to do?
- Repeat words correctly without criticism.
- Play sound games. For example, “Can you say ‘k-k-k’ like a clock?”.
Challenge # 4
The toddler struggles to communicate needs and lacks the words to express themselves.
What to do?
- Use choices to compel them to answer you.
- Teach them simple words.
Challenge # 5
Toddler suddenly stops using words they previously knew.
What to do?
- Stay calm and provide extra reassurance.
- Reintroduce lost words through play and repetition.
Fun Activities & Games to Boost Speech
Playing games, vacationing, and having fun activities help your toddler talk and learn communication.
- Sing-Along with Actions: Songs like “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” or “If You’re Happy and You Know It” encourage mimicking words and movements.
- Toy Phone Conversations: Pretend to chat on the phone, asking open-ended questions like “What are you doing?” to inspire verbal responses.
- Sensory Bin Dig: Hide small toys in a bin filled with rice or beans. Ask the child to describe textures and name found items. If your toddler is strong and motivated, he or she might learn things quickly.
But note that: Whenever you play games with them, ensure that all games are not on digital devices. When kids watch videos excessively, it actually hinders their speech skills.