There are several things you can do to help encourage language development in your toddler. The following recommendations can be used throughout your daily interactions with your child.
Model two- to three-word sentences
By the age of 3, your child will typically have a vocabulary of around 900 to 1000 words. They may use sentences with two to three words, (e.g., "I want more").
When speaking to your child, use clear, simple language that is easy to imitate. When your child speaks to you, imitate what they say as a way of showing them you understand them and then build on it. For example, if your child says, “Want more milk” you can respond by saying "You want more milk. I’ll pour some milk in your cup."
Books with simple phrases can be read many times until the child can say part or all the words on each page. For example:
- Parent: Where’s Spot? … Spot is in the box.
- Parent: Where’s Spot?
- Child: Box! or In the box!
Building vocabulary (numbers, colours, names)
There are many different activities you can do with your child to help expand their vocabulary.
Practice counting. Count toes and fingers. Count steps as you go down them.
Cut out pictures from magazines and make a scrapbook of familiar things (food, toys, people). Help your child glue the pictures into the scrapbook. Practice naming the pictures, using gestures and speech to show how you use the items.
Create your own photo album while naming and describing people (Grandpa is fishing, Mommy is on the beach).
Singing is a great way to develop words and sentences – nursery rhymes and songs such as The Itsy-Bitsy Spider, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Row, Row, Row Your Boat.
Let your child fill in the blank while singing:
- Parent: Mary had a ….(pause)
- Child: Little lamb, little lamb.
Introduce adjectives: furry bunny, green peas, fast car and play I Spy.
Using plurals
Read books that contain multiple examples of plural nouns. For example, Goldilocks and the Three Bears includes words such as beds, bowls, chairs etc.
Play a matching game with picture cards. Say, “I found one truck, now I have two trucks.”
While grocery shopping pick up one apple and then pick up another and say “two apples.”
Stress the 'S' sound at the end of words or when they come up in conversation.
Asking 'Wh' questions
Use everyday activities to model 'Wh' questions:
- Who is at the door?
- What goes in the shopping cart?
When reading books, ask about the pictures:
- Where’s the frog? (searching through a flipbook)
- Who’s in the car? (while playing with a toy car and small dolls)
- What is her name?
Following two- and three-step commands
Use commands with simple words, such as "Get a spoon."
Break longer commands into smaller parts, for example, "Put on your socks" or "Put on your running shoes."
Have your child repeat the command and then do it to verify they understood you.
Number instructions as you request them, for example, "First get your shoes, then put them in your backpack."
Playing games such as Simon Says, baking and doing crafts are good opportunities to practice following simple instructions.
Storytelling
Expand on social communication and storytelling skills by acting out typical scenarios (e.g., cooking food, going to sleep or going to the doctor) with dolls or other props. Do the same type of role-playing activity when playing dress-up. Repeat what your child has said, even if you do not understand it completely. This shows that what they say is important to you.