Parents cannot wait to hear their babies say “mama” or “dada” as soon as they become toddlers. If you feel the same way, you could try some activities to encourage toddler-speak. Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explain that babies begin to utter sounds before speaking their first words at around one year (1). Their language skills develop and become more refined as they move from infancy to toddlerhood (2). Read this post as we talk about the stages of language development in babies and some activities to help your toddler speak fluently.
Language Development Milestones
The following are the age-defined stages of language development and achievement of speaking according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) (3).
Activities To Help Toddlers Talk
Parents can try various enjoyable activities to exercise the toddler’s speaking skills. The more exposure to new words, the more will be the chances of picking them.Indulge in activities that the toddler enjoys; repetition and consistency are the keys for maximum effectiveness (4). The following are some fun-filled activities that you could consider trying with babies and toddlers.
What To Avoid When Toddler Is Learning To Speak?
Avoid the following habits to reinforce the correct pronunciation of words and improve a toddler’s vocabulary. Each baby and toddler develops at their own pace. Therefore, do not panic if you see other toddlers speak a lot while your toddler is still learning a few words. If your little one has achieved their previous developmental milestones, they will achieve their speech-related milestones, eventually. Nevertheless, there could be certain scenarios when it is good to see a doctor.
When To See A Doctor?
Consult a pediatrician if the toddler(1) (7) (8):
Does not speak simple single words by the age of 12 months.
Does not speak at least six words by the age of 18 months.
Does not follow simple instructions or use simple phrases, or does not know the name of common items, such as bottle and brush, by the age of 24 months.
