My Toddler Talks

1. Play is Essential for Toddler Development

Play is an essential learning tool for toddlers and is very important to their overall development and cognition.

Holistic Development. Play is not just fun; it's a critical component of a toddler's overall development. It enhances communication, socialization, problem-solving, attention span, hand-eye coordination, visual perception, and fine motor skills. Engaging in play allows toddlers to explore their environment, discover new objects, and learn through hands-on experiences.

Cognitive and Language Boost. Research indicates that play skills, language structures, and cognitive concepts develop simultaneously. For instance, pretend play requires the understanding of symbolic representation and the language skills to engage in social dialogue. When adults actively participate in play, it further boosts a child's language and cognitive development.

Strengthening Bonds. Play creates a relaxed and secure environment for parental assistance and guidance, strengthening the bond between parent and child. It allows parents to enter the child's world, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills. Structured play routines, facilitated by adults, allow toddlers to make decisions and lead the way, promoting independence and confidence.

2. Routines Provide Security and Encourage Learning

Toddlers are happier when they know what to expect because it gives them a sense of security and comfort.

Predictability and Comfort. Routines offer toddlers a sense of security and comfort by creating a predictable environment. Knowing what to expect reduces anxiety and helps them trust adults, making them more comfortable exploring their surroundings. This predictability is crucial for their emotional well-being and overall development.

Learning and Transitions. Routines encourage learning by providing a structured framework for acquiring new skills. Social skills, such as waving hello and saying goodbye, are often introduced through routines. Additionally, routines help toddlers transition between activities and events, making changes smoother and less stressful.

Flexibility within Structure. While predictability is important, routines don't need to be rigid. Flexibility and variations are acceptable as long as the child understands the ultimate outcome. This balance of structure and adaptability allows toddlers to thrive and learn effectively.

3. Play Routines Combine Fun and Predictability

A play routine is established when participation in a fun activity follows a predictable pattern or sequence.

Structured Learning. Play routines combine the elements of play and routine to facilitate communication and play skills in toddlers. These routines involve fun activities that follow a predictable pattern, providing a framework for learning language and increasing communication. By structuring play, adults can create an environment where toddlers learn what to expect each time.

Predictability and Initiation. Predictability in play helps toddlers initiate communication because they can anticipate what will happen next. This anticipation encourages them to engage and express themselves, fostering language development. The structured nature of play routines provides a foundation for learning and communication.

Repetition and Confidence. Many toddlers enjoy repetition in their play, finding comfort and excitement in recreating successful experiences. Repeating activities increases their confidence and sense of well-being. Encouraging toddlers to follow a routine while repeating a desirable activity can increase their motivation and facilitate language acquisition.

4. Setting Realistic Expectations for Communication

The toddler may follow a direction, identify a picture, or use a gesture or sign before saying words or verbalizing his intentions.

Comprehension Before Production. It's important to recognize that language-delayed children may first respond to communication bids before initiating dialogue. They might follow directions, identify pictures, or use gestures before verbalizing their intentions. Comprehension generally precedes production, so responsiveness is a positive first step.

Imitation and Repetition. Toddlers often need to imitate and repeat spoken words and phrases before spontaneously using them on their own. Parroting is a normal part of language development, even if the child doesn't fully understand the words. This imitation helps them practice and internalize language patterns.

Context-Specific Words. A toddler's first words tend to be rooted in specific contexts and situations. For example, a child might say "dog" only when seeing their neighbor's dog, not all dogs. Understanding grows as they extend the word to multiple contexts. A general rule of thumb is that children need to have fifty words in their repertoire before combining words.

5. Language Modeling Techniques Enhance Learning

When using self-talk and parallel talk, you are NOT requiring your child to respond to or imitate what you are saying.

Self-Talk and Parallel Talk. Self-talk involves narrating your own actions, while parallel talk describes what the child is doing. These techniques expose children to language during play and daily routines without requiring them to respond. This helps toddlers realize that talking during play is fun.

Expand and Follow the Lead. Expanding involves adding grammatically correct information to a child's incomplete utterances. Following the toddler's lead means talking about what the child is interested in, acknowledging their words and actions. These techniques encourage natural communication and increase the child's attention.

Questioning and Pausing. Avoid inundating children with too many questions, as it can limit their responses. Balance questions with comments to encourage dialogue. Pause in anticipation to give the child a chance to respond, showing that you are waiting expectantly.

6. Troubleshooting Imitation Challenges

Remember R-A-I-S-E-S to help you facilitate your toddler’s language learning by incorporating some of the following techniques into your play routines.

Analyze Interactions. If a child isn't imitating words, analyze your interactions. Are you dominating the play and talking too much? Video-record a play session to assess your techniques. Remember R-A-I-S-E-S to facilitate language learning.

Reduce Pressure. Minimize pressure by replacing questions with comments. Keep the play fun and lighthearted to avoid frustration. Adding support involves providing auditory, visual, and tactile cues.

Imitate and Slow Down. Imitate the child's sounds and words to strengthen the connection. Slow down your rate of speech and exaggerate intonation to help the child process what you're saying. Keep sentences short and sweet, matching the child's abilities.

7. The "Do Not List" for Effective Play

Think C-U-T-I-E to help you remember what NOT to do while playing with your cutie!

Avoid Correcting. Do not correct a child's communication attempts. Encourage and praise any efforts, even if they are weak or unintelligible. For example, if a child says "daw" for dog, praise the attempt and repeat the correct word.

Limit Negatives. Avoid using too many "no's" and "don'ts." Negativity is not fun and can discourage communication. Focus on positive reinforcement and encouragement.

Skip Academics. If a child is having a slow start in language acquisition, avoid teaching academically related vocabulary like numbers, colors, or shapes. Focus on words that are relevant to their daily communication needs.

8. The Five "Rs" to Accelerate Language Learning

Here are five more tips to help accelerate your toddler’s language learning.

Raise It Up! Hold desired objects or toys next to your face so that your child has to look at your face when you’re talking. Placement next to your eyes or mouth is fine. For instance, if your toddler wants a cookie, hold the cookie close to your mouth while you say “cookie” so he can watch your lips move.

Reinforce. Use natural reinforcers or rewards, such as giving your child a big hug, an extra turn in play, or verbal praise to keep him encouraged.

Respond. If your child said “ba” while pointing to a boat, acknowledge his verbal production by looking at the boat and talking about it. He is interested in that boat, which is why he tried to name it.

9. Toy Activities for Language Development

Toddlers are more likely to imitate your actions and sounds if they are having fun! Remember to be animated and silly.

Animal Farm. Use a barn and farm animals to have them greet each other with sounds. Have them walk in and out of the barn, eat, sleep, or go potty. Use choices, pause in anticipation, and employ self-talk and parallel talk.

Bouncing Balls. Bounce, roll, squeeze, or drop balls into a bowl. Incorporate stuffed animals or construction trucks. Ask questions, expand on the child's utterances, and use sentence completion tasks.

Bowling. Set up bowling pins and take turns rolling the ball. Narrate actions, use sentence completion tasks, and expand on the child's utterances. Decorate pins with stickers for added interest.

10. Arts and Crafts Activities for Communication

Toddlers love felt stickers, foam stickers, glittery stickers—anything that’s colorful with different textures.

Coloring with Bingo Markers. Use washable bingo markers on plain paper or coloring books. Demonstrate how to open the markers and make dots. Take turns coloring and praise the process, not just the result.

Drying the Clothes. Use a rope, clothespins, and the toddler's clothing to create a clothesline. Name each article of clothing and have the toddler help secure them to the line. Sing a song while completing the activity.

Felt Stickers. Draw a picture and use felt stickers to decorate it. Name each sticker and ask the toddler where it should go. Use sentence completion tasks, expand on utterances, and offer choices.

Last updated: February 24, 2025