How can I encourage my toddler to talk?
Between the ages of two and three, your little one’s vocab is likely to explode. This is what experts suggest you do to help them develop their dexterity with words.
From those adorable little babbles to the electric thrill of the first real word, language acquisition is enthralling to watch. But, is there anything you should do to help your toddler become more fluent and confident in their speech?
Yes, according to a sizeable body of research, which shows that both how much and how you talk to your child will strongly impact the proficiency with which they use and understand words. Studies also show that language skills are one of the strongest predictors of academic success.
Experts offers these five proven pointers for turning your toddler into a real little chatterbox.
Switch off the TV
Cape Town-based paediatrician Dr Hanneke Heyns is emphatic on this point. The first thing you should do to encourage your toddler to develop their ability with words is to turn off the TV (and other screens in your home). This is quite simply because children learn to talk by talking, not by passively staring at a screen. They need the dynamic back and forth of coversation to experiment and become confident at communicating themselves with increasing complexity.
Narrate your life
“Be a walking commentary, describing everything your child sees and experiences,” advises Dr Heyns. Even before they’re able to understand or respond, this will boost your baby’s brain and word skills.
You might feel at something of a conversational loss talking to your child when they’re still too little to answer. But narration gathers a momentum of its own: “We’re going to put on your red shoes so we can go to the park. I’ll tie the laces. Now we’re ready to walk to the car. Can you see how excited the dog is to go out?...”
Talk to them like real people (because that’s what they are!)
It’s normal to use ‘motherese’ – the high-pitched, slow and exaggerated way adults speak to babies – in the early months (some studies even show this kind of ‘baby talk’ is beneficial), but as your child’s understanding and ability evolves, so should the way you speak to them.
Speaking in your authentic, adult voice and full sentences (just a bit slower) gives your child more contextual cues than merely pointing at an object and repeating its baby name. This engages them more fully and gives them richer learning material.
Read, read, read!
This one’s so important, Dr Heyns repeats it three times. But that doesn’t mean you need an extensive library of children’s books. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be a story. Take any book or magazine and point to pictures, describe the colours, shapes, and actions,” she suggests.
Reading to your toddler broadens their understanding of the world, cultivates their imagination and listening skills, and prepares them for the written word.
Listen for meaning, not to correct
The way you listen to your toddler is important, too. When they speak, look for the meaning of what they say rather than correcting their errors. Offer plenty of affirmation (“That’s right, it’s a ball!”). Validating their attempts to communicate will give them confidence and the motivation to add to their vocabulary over time.
IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com
