10 top tips for talking – how to support your child at home
These tips will help you to engage with your child and support them in developing their talking skills.
Follow their lead
Join in and talk about what your child is doing/looking at, it helps them to learn words more quickly.
See tools for talking 12 to 18 months – following baby’s lead
Be face to face and get their attention first
Young children find it difficult to listen while they’re doing something. If they’re busy playing they may find it hard to listen to what you’re saying.
Put their message into words
When your child communicates for example, by reaching, pointing, looking or making a sound, put into words what you think they’re trying to tell you. Say what you think they would say if they could. Keep it short, using a single word or short phrase to capture their message.
Create opportunities to communicate
If we anticipate our child’s needs too quickly, we miss an opportunity to encourage our child to communicate. Remember to stop talking and wait to give your child the chance to start communicating first by using sounds, actions or words.
Make language learning fun
When a child sees an adult playing around with sounds, words, and sentences they are more likely to try this out themselves. Try making fun sounds and words e.g. ‘wheee!’ ‘pop!’ ‘splash!’
Copy your child’s sounds and actions
This tells your child that you’re listening to them and interested in what they’re saying. This encourages them to keep talking even if they aren’t using real words yet.
See how to play copycat with your child and copycat games with a ball.
Use simple repetitive language
Children find it difficult to understand long strings of words. Break down instructions and repeat words. Repetition also makes it easier for children to learn how to say words themselves.
See how to encourage your baby to talk by narrating your day and play the name game when out and about.
Use gestures, actions, and demonstrations
Speaking in a lively and animated way using gestures and actions will catch your child’s attention. It also gives extra clues to help them understand what you’re saying. Using touch, smell, taste, listening and sight helps your child to remember labels and actions.
Ask fewer questions
Adults tend to ask lots of questions which can put pressure on a child to talk. This means they’re less likely to learn new words. Try to avoid questions, for example, ‘what’s that?’ and make comments instead, for example ‘car is driving.’
Offer choices
This gives you an opportunity to label objects as the child sees them. It also creates an opportunity for them to communicate their choice with you.
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