How to encourage your toddler to talk
When my toddler started talking, I joked with my husband that I now had my own Man Friday - you know, Robinson Crusoe's best friend on the island. Except my 'Man Friday' made me do all the chores and spent most of his days glued to my hip.
We often communicated in two-word sentences: “Bird, go.” “Me, cookie.” And we were just one word away from Cookie Monster’s “Me want cookie.”
It was toddler talk – the elusive milestone every first-time parent eagerly anticipates. And I loved it. I loved every moment when he pointed to a butterfly and called it ‘flutterfly’ or said “pwetty” instead of pretty.
But I wanted to know how to respond. Do I correct him or let Man Friday continue talking like Man Friday? Is it wiser to sit him down and demand he ‘talk the talk’? (After all, these monosyllables weren’t going to take him far in kindergarten.)
Well, we did some research, and here’s what you need to know about teaching toddlers to talk, starting right at the beginning.
When should a toddler start talking?
Babies are smart – they know communication is essential for survival. Here’s how their journey to words unfolds:
0–6 months:
Babies rely on crying and wailing to signal needs— so they cry or wail to let you know if they are hungry, gassy, or irritated by that tag in their onesie.
Their brains start tuning in to the sounds of language they hear from their caregivers.
After spending 6 months listening to their caretakers, they begin to understand the basic sounds and voices. And the brightest crayons even begin to turn their heads when they hear someone call their name.
7–12 months
Time to cue in the baby talk. Around this time, most babies also start to babble with those adorable “mamamma” or “dadadada.” It’s around the 7-month mark that some babies say their first word (even if it doesn’t totally sound like an actual word). For others, it may be closer to 9 months or even 11 months. And that is fine.
12–24 months
As they reach the 12-month mark, a child’s language skills develop really quickly. Here’s what to expect during this time:
- Basic words and phrases: Your toddler may start using simple nouns like “dog” and “cup,” then add verbs like “eat” and “sit.”
- Building sentences: They begin linking words to form short sentences, like “I want” or “go there.”
- Pronouns and objects: They start using pronouns such as “I” and “you” and can identify familiar objects around them – cars, trees, toys, etc.
- Creative communication: They’ll also get creative with communication, using gestures, repeating sounds, and inventing their expressive moves.
18 months
By this age, many toddlers start referring to themselves by name. They also start to understand simple instructions and phrases and may even respond with excitement. (Cue the cuteness).
Each child reaches these milestones at their own pace, so it’s all about cheering them on as they explore language.
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What is considered late talking in toddlers?
A child is typically considered a “late talker” if, by 18 months, they have a vocabulary of fewer than 10 words.
If by 16 months, a toddler hasn’t said their first word or is missing key speech milestones, it may be time to speak to a paediatrician. They could refer your kid to a speech-language pathologist for a deeper evaluation.
It’s important to note that delays in speech development can sometimes be linked to hearing loss, while in other cases, a speech or language disorder may be the cause for the delay.
However, the good news is that early intervention and speech therapy are highly effective and can help a child overcome this obstacle through meaningful progress.
Should a 2-year-old be fully talking?
While it may be tempting to constantly compare a child’s performance to their peers – and even siblings – every kid learns at their own pace.
Several factors influence a child’s speech development; some studies show that girls often start talking earlier than boys and may also use more complex language.
According to Department of Health guidelines, two-year-old toddlers should be using at least 50 words and create sentences with 4 to 5 words.
Typically, they’ll recognise and identify almost all common objects and pictures, as well as use pronouns (I, me, he, she) and some plurals.
As they near the 3-year mark, toddlers start to speak in complete sentences and speak more fluently. They are then able to communicate their feelings and even recall and share things they did in the past while using more complex sentences.
9 Tips to help your toddler talk
Teach your toddler to talk, they said. It’ll be fun, they said.
What they didn’t tell you is that you have to be prepared for what comes next. The “no’s,” and the “whys?”
Because answering deep philosophical questions like, “Why can’t I pee in the cat litter?” is what makes this parenting journey so special, right?
Right.
Here’s how you can get your toddler to talk and also spill the beans on who broke Mama’s favourite coffee mug. (He insists it was the cat, but I suspect it was my husband.)
1. Enunciate to help develop language skills
Kids just need a little nudge in the right direction. One way to encourage your toddler to talk is to communicate at home. Not only is it a great way to help your toddler learn, but it is also a great way to bond with your them.
pKeep in mind that talking clearly and slowly to a child is important because their brain is processing all the sounds and information. Children listen to their parents communicate and
according to language researchers, this is one of the most important ways a child learns to speak and add words to their vocabulary.
2. Read books, sing nursery rhymes
Sing their favourite songs and encourage toddlers to talk by asking them to sing along.
Toddlers love picture books, so reading together is a fun way to encourage learning and communication. Pick up some childhood classics like ‘The Very Busy Spider’ by Eric Carle and read it with animated movements and animal noises. Ask your child questions about the pictures or use sounds to encourage speech development.
For example, making a “SSSS” sound for a snake and playfully interacting with your child enhances speech sound development.
3. Have patience—lots of it
It is important to listen to your child. Don’t try to complete their sentences or correct their pronunciation. And when they demand to know why they can’t eat food from the bowl like the cat, get ready to have an interesting conversation.
4. Use sign language
Think of sign language as training wheels for speaking.
It gives a way for your child to communicate before their verbal skills develop, reducing frustration for both of you. Start with simple signs like “more”, “all done”, “help”, and “go”.
These can be used in various situations and are often the first steps towards verbal communication. As your child starts speaking, the reliance on signs will naturally decrease.
5. Increase your toddler’s vocabulary
Don’t hold back on speaking around your toddler, even if they can’t respond yet. Narrate your activities, from changing diapers to cooking, and engage in conversations as much as possible.
Explain the world around them by counting or describing the colours of objects, whether on your way to the park or out and about for a grocery run. Just take that time in the car to describe and talk about the things you see.
This exposure is crucial for vocabulary development and helps them learn new words. Just be sure to use simple words, short sentences, and sing if needed, which can significantly influence their learning process.
6. Refrain from baby talk
As cute and tempting as it is to mimic the adorable mispronunciations of toddlers, it’s better not to.
For instance, if your kid says “bunnet” instead of “button”, gently correct them by saying, “Yes, I’ll button your shirt.” This way, they learn the proper sound without feeling discouraged or embarrassed – which helps keep toddlers talking.
7. Give your child choices
Encourage your toddler to use words by offering choices during everyday activities. For example, offer two choices while asking, “Do you want the orange or the apple?”
If they point, encourage communication by asking them to answer verbally. This decision-making builds confidence and also encourages them to learn how to communicate effectively.
8. Get your toddler talking with responsive listening
You have to be your toddler’s biggest cheerleader.
When they make a barely audible sound or say a big word, you have to act like it’s the most brilliant thing you’ve ever heard. Even if their words are gibberish, give them a gold star for effort.
A well-timed “Good try!” will fuel their desire to communicate, even if they continue to call the cat a “dog.”
Again, patience is key. Just keep nodding enthusiastically and beam at them proudly. Also, be sure to make plenty of eye contact.
9. Follow Your Child’s Lead with the OWL Approach
Sometimes, the best way to encourage your toddler to talk is to let them take the lead.
Speech and Language Pathologist, Binh Doan, recommends trying the ‘OWL approach’. OWL – Observe, Wait, and Listen – is a powerful tool for fostering communication in a natural and pressure-free way. Instead of bombarding your child with questions or instructions, observe what catches their attention, wait to give them a chance to initiate, and listen to what they say (or try to say). If your toddler points at a dog and says “woof,” resist the urge to correct them immediately – instead, respond enthusiastically with, “Yes! That’s a big, fluffy dog! The dog says woof!”
This method encourages back-and-forth interactions, making conversations feel fun rather than forced. By tuning into their interests and allowing them space to communicate, you’ll naturally help expand their vocabulary and confidence.
Common challenges in toddler speech
Is Bluey on repeat helping my toddler or is it part of the problem?
There has been a lot of interest in and worry about how screen time affects toddlers’ language development.
I’ll just rip off the band-aid for this one: Higher mobile/screen time during toddler years has been linked to language deficits in toddlers as early as 18 months, one study found. For the development of language abilities, this study emphasised the value of face-to-face communication and independent play over passive screen use.
In light of these findings, the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) advises parents to limit screen time. Children between the ages of 2 and 5 should not spend more than an hour a day on screens.
It is important to note that a speech delay is different from a language delay.
A speech delay affects how a child produces sounds and words, making it hard for them to speak clearly, while a language delay impacts their ability to understand and use language, affecting vocabulary and sentence formation.
Simply put, a speech delay is more about how they talk, while a language delay is more about what a toddler understands and expresses.
However, both speech and language delays are typically addressed by speech-language pathologists (SLPs)-specialists trained to assess and treat issues with both speech and language.
Wrapping it up
After two years of staring at your child and (in the words of Inside Out) wondering “What is going on inside their head?”, those first coherent phrases come like sweet relief.
Although I do feel I should warn you: it is cute when they say “mum” for the first time. But when a toddler says “mummy” for the 40th time during a five-minute work call, it can be quite a test of patience.
I remember once when my 2-year-old kept on saying “bato bato” while I cooked dinner. After 15 minutes of pointing at different objects and ravaging the pantry, it turned out all he needed was a “tomato” because he’d seen me chop one and put it in the pot.
Dinner was burnt that night.
Sources
Health Direct, Speech development in children, May 2024
Raising Children, Language development: 1-2 years, December 2023
Speech Pathology Australia, Communication milestones, June 2024
The Hanen Centre, OWL about Having Fun, June 2022
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