Tips to Encourage Early Language Development
Parents eagerly await for their child to produce their first words. But what if it’s not happening in the expected time frame? Try out these tips to encourage your child’s language development to help achieve those milestones.
Establish Routines - Participating in routines helps your child expect what’s coming. Practice verbal and physical routines that consist of predictable words or gestures at an anticipated time. Singing songs (e.g., wheels on the bus) and playing simple games (e.g., peek-a-boo) are perfect examples of routines that can provide your child an opportunity to imitate words, gestures, and participate in turn-taking skills. For example, pause throughout the song and wait for your child’s reaction. Do they initiate an action or approximate a word? Create your own routines that you can implement into everyday activities (e.g., singing a song for washing hands, bath time, etc.).
Pause For a Response - Children take longer to process information. Wait time is CRITICAL in early language development. Count to 5 in your head so that you are consistently providing your child an opportunity to respond.
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat - When you think you’ve repeated too much, repeat again! Children require you to say the same thing over and over again to understand words and learn the meanings of those words.
Decrease Questions and Reduce Demands - Saying, “What’s _____?” or “Say _____” places unnecessary pressure on your child. Do not expect a response. Instead, create a naturalistic environment through play. Be noisey, describe your surroundings, and model comments (e.g., big truck!).
Offer Choices - Hold items near your child’s face as you name choices so they understand which item is being labeled. Wait for them to make a choice. Remember to pause to provide them with the opportunity to imitate the word. If your child is not yet saying the word, name the item again.
Get Face to Face - Get down on your child’s level and make eye contact. This shows your child that you’re interested in what they are doing at that moment.
Speak in Short Phrases - Adults are always on the go! We often talk quickly and frequently. Our children on the other hand become exhausted as they try to keep up. Set time aside during your day to speak slowly and say less. If your child is saying 1-word phrases, build on what they say. Adding 1- or 2-words to your child’s phrase (e.g., “yellow bus” after your child says, “bus”) helps them progress to the next level of talking.
Be Silly and Have Fun - Don’t place pressure on you or your child. Language development is supposed to be an exciting time. Make funny faces, sing loudly, encourage laughter. Enjoy the process of learning language together.
With Love,
RM Studio
