I am getting a little worried. I know that my toddler can talk but she doesn’t, she points. How can I help her talk more?
Yes, this can be frustrating. You know that your child can talk, but she is just not doing it. Maybe he is not confident, maybe it is defiance, maybe he does not have to because he can get what he needs without speaking.
Whatever the reason, it is important that your child talks to the best of her ability so that she can communicate, get needs met, socialize and function out there in the world as the capable toddler that she is. Remember, we are not looking for perfection, just communication.
Here are 3 ways to encourage talking:
Give your child something to talk about
Engage your child in play that he LOVES to do. Is it trains? Ask where the trains are going once he is really knee deep in train land. Painting, ask your child to tell you about his work or he could tell you what to paint. Build with your child and ask what’s next. Get him excited and the words will start flowing
Be patient
Give your child time to talk. Do not rush her words. You can encourage talking by giving the words at first? “You want an apple? Say ‘Apple’”. You are not holding the apple hostage until the words are said – you are teaching your child that words are used to get a need met or to communicate a want. As you move forward, step it up a little. Always speaking calmly and kindly. If she is pointing to an apple, calmly say that you are not clear about what she wants, and she needs to use her words. Wait for a bit until she says, “Apple.” You can even say it with her. Again, you are not looking for perfection of pronunciation, just communication.
Stop their spokesperson
Is there a sibling, your partner, umm… you… who speaks for your child so that he does not have to? It is easy to speak for a young child, but then he has no need to speak for himself. Give a child time and room to talk – and if it is a sibling, thank them for helping, but be clear that you want your toddler to speak for himself. This one may be tough, and your big kid may get mad, but speaking for yourself is an important life skill.
If the nonverbal communication continues, and you are concerned, you can speak with your child’s doctor about it. I always say that if you are worried, there is no harm in checking things out. If you feel it is just a phase, try these steps and let me know how it goes.
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Brandi Davis, ACC, is a professional Parenting Coach, Parent Educator, and Author of O.K. I’m A Parent Now What? She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and be sure to catch her parenting podcasts on iTunes. The goal of Brandi’s practice is to bring respect, calm communication, teamwork, and FUN into the home or classroom. To discover all that Child and Family Coaching can bring to your family stop by www.childandfamilycoaching.com.
The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog contributor’s. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Writers may have conflicts of interest, and their opinions are their own.