How Can I Help My Toddler Talk? Play Ideas for Every Day
Helping a toddler's language to develop doesn't need special equipment or specific time set aside. You just need a few minutes of the right kind of strategies folded into things you're already doing. Here's what I'd actually suggest.
Play is where language grows
Children learn words when they are attached to something they care about, in a moment when someone they trust is paying attention to the same thing. Learning is always attached to connection. So it makes sense that we give parents the skills to support their little ones at home because they are the ones who share the best connection.
This is one of the reasons I am so passionate about intervention through parent coaching rather than only working with children directly. You are with your child for thousands of moments a week. I am not. The strategies matter far more in your hands than in mine.
Five things to try
1. Get face to face
Sit or lie down so you're at your child's eye level. This sounds trivial but it changes a surprising amount — your child can see your mouth, read your expression, and knows you're properly there.
2. Follow their lead, don't redirect
Whatever your child has picked up is your material for the next few minutes, even if it's a bit of fluff off the carpet. Joining their interest gets you far more communication than spending time trying to steer them towards specific toys or activities.
3. Say one word more than they do
Match your language to just above where your child currently is. If they aren't using words yet, use single words. If they're using single words, use two.
Child says: "Car."
You say: "Blue car." or "Car go."
4. Build in a pause
Say your bit, then stop and look expectantly. Count to ten in your head. It feels uncomfortably long but it's often exactly what a child needs to get a response together.
5. Use songs and repeated routines
Songs with actions and predictable phrases give children the same words over and over, with a tune to attach them to. Leaving a gap in a very familiar phrase is one of the most reliable ways to get a first attempt at a word.
You: "Ready, steady…"
(pause, look, wait)
Everyday moments that already work
You don't need to schedule any of this. These moments are already in your day:
Bath time — pouring, splashing, "in", "out", "more", "all gone"
Getting dressed — naming body parts and clothes as they go on
Mealtimes — offering choices, naming foods, "more", "finished"
Nappy changes — face to face, undistracted, make fun sounds together
The walk to nursery — bin trucks, dogs, buses, whatever they point at you give attention to
Putting the shopping away — naming, passing, "in the cupboard"
Start with Two
Just pick two of any of the above and give them a try for a few days. Once you have those embedded into your child's day go through this list again and add another.
What to avoid
Testing. "What's this? What colour is it? Say ball." Turning play into a quiz makes many children go quiet.
Correcting. If your child says "Bibi" for biscuit, don't ask them to try again — just say the word properly yourself as you hand it over.
Filling every gap. Silence is where your child's turn goes.
Doing it all at once. One or two strategies, used consistently, work better than five used occasionally.
Who Can I Speak to About My Child’s Talking?
Depending on where you live, you may be able to contact:
Your health visitor
Your GP
Your child’s nursery or early-years practitioner
Your local NHS speech and language therapy service
A qualified independent speech and language therapist
If you aren't sure if your child needs support have a look at this post. Always trust your instinct it's never too early to get support.
How SaplingSLT Can Help
I'm Suzie, a HCPC-registered Speech and Language Therapist. At SaplingSLT, I provide specialist online speech and language consultations for parents of preschool-aged children.
Therapy always starts with a detailed initial
assessment of your child and then we work together
to find a therapy approach that makes a difference.
This article provides general information and is not a substitute for an individual assessment or medical advice. If you are concerned about your child’s hearing, development or loss of previously acquired skills, contact an appropriate healthcare professional.
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