One of the most interesting things about the development of language in children is that it is closely related to play. This encourages them to begin intentionally communicating their needs, through things like pointing and body language and making more sounds.Įventually words will become the most efficient way for them to communicate with us, but until then parents shouldn’t overlook the importance of shaping nonverbal communication, which cements the utility of communication in a child’s mind and drives him to learn to communicate in more sophisticated ways.
2 word phrases for toddlers how to#
But even before kids figure out how to point to something they want, they communicate with us in other ways.Įarly on, when infants cry because they’re hungry or uncomfortable, they may simply be reacting to how they feel - but when parents interpret and respond to their cries and sounds, babies begin to notice the reciprocal relationship between vocalization and getting their needs met. Recognizing, encouraging, and positively reinforcing these precursors to language set the stage for speech production and language to come. Young children point, make eye contact, and use body language to give us messages. By following their lead and talking about what interests them, you’ll send the message that language is a fun challenge rather than something to worry about.Īs all parents know, words aren’t the only way to communicate. Instead, use short sentences that are just a little more complex than what they can already do. And if they’re only speaking one or two words at a time, don’t push for long sentences. If you know your child knows a word, there’s no need to put them on the spot by, for example, asking over and over what sound a cow makes.
It’s also important to help kids avoid feeling stressed about language. And when your child does try out speaking, respond right away with specific praise: “Great job asking for the apple juice!” You can also describe what they’re doing and give them a chance to correct you when you get something wrong. You could mimic the words your child says, which shows that you’re excited about what they can do and prompts them to mimic you too. The best way to encourage kids to talk is by showing them how fun and helpful it can be. This shows them that communicating works and encourages them to develop new ways of doing it. It’s important to pick up on these kinds of communication and use them yourself with your kids.
Here are a few ways parents can help young children to build their language skills at home.Ĭrying, pointing, smiling, eye contact - these are all ways that young children connect with others. Most kids pick up language naturally, but the way the people around them react can make a difference in how fast their skills develop.