How to Encourage Your Toddler to Talk: Helpful Tips

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How to Encourage Your Toddler to Talk Helpful
Tips How can I improve my childs ability to
speak, is a common refrain among young parents.
Sure enough you want to see your toddler develop
language skills and speak nineteen to a dozen!
Before we share some helpful tips to help your
child talk, it is worth mentioning that toddlers
pick up language skills at their own pace. So
unless there are any big milestones that they are
missing there may not be cause to worry.
Here is what you can do to encourage speech
help develop their language skills. Some of the
exercises to help 2 year old talk, include 1.
Read, Read, Read There is nothing quite like
helping your child expand his or her vocabulary
than to read to them. A 2019 study, went on to
show how having one book read to the child each
day, exposes the child to 1.4 million more words
as compared to those children who arent read to,
by kindergarten. Reading is also a great way to
bond with the child and offer you coachable
moments to help the child develop important life
skills! Singing to the child, whether it is their
favourite lullaby or a song is also a well-loved
activity to help toddlers with speech.
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• Converse with the child
• Even if the child isnt very vocal, it will help
  to talk to the child. The more you talk and
  express yourself, the easier it will be for the
  toddler to learn the language. You can talk to
  them about your day, if you are out for a walk,
  talk to them about what you see around the
  options are unlimited. Make sure though that you
  use simple words and short sentences that are age
  appropriate. Even if the child does not reply or
  uses sign language to communicate their needs,
  make sure you do not give up talking. So if the
  child points to his toy car, it will be a good
  idea to go on to say yes that is your car. As
  far as possible do expand on the childs
  responses. So if the child mentions the car, go
  ahead and say yes its your red, toy car.
• Dont baby talk
• Who doesnt like to hear that adorable baby talk?
  Go ahead and enjoy it by all means but do not use
  it yourself. In fact, when the child refers to
  something in baby language, make sure you use the
  right usage in your response.
• Give them choices
• Giving the child choices will not only improve
  their communication skills but also critical
  thinking and decision making abilities. So next
  time instead of offering breakfast to the child,
  offer him two healthy options to choose from. If
  they gesticulate, gently encourage them to use
  words instead.
• Seemingly small tips such as these will help your
  child talk.
• Limit Screen Time
• Believe it or not increased screen time does not
  just harm the childs eyes, it also leads to
  language delays. As per a 2018 study increased
  screen time in 18 month olds found a clear
  correlation with speech delays. It is interaction
  with others, as opposed to staring at a screen
  that can help with language development. For kids
  between the ages of 2 to 5, typically no more
  than 1 hour of screen time per day, though not at
  a stretch, may be ideal.

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• Trouble putting together a sentence
• Trouble understanding simple requests
• Should you be facing any of these issues or
  generally have concerns, it will be good to speak
  to the childs pediatrician. Language delays can
  occur on account of a range of issues including
  but not limited to
• Hearing impairments
• Intellectual disabilities
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• A detailed assessment of the child would help
  reveal the underlying cause and solutions could
  be recommended accordingly.
• To Sum Up
• Children develop language skills at their
  individual pace. It is therefore unfair to
  compare one child to the other. Remember also
  that talking can be frustrating for toddlers
  they have a lot to tell you but cant quite get
  the words out. Encouraging your toddler to talk
  through some fun activities and praising their
  efforts will show results. Soon you would be
  looking for a moment of peace quiet amidst all
  their chatter!