My Toddler Is Not Talking Yet. What Can I Do to Help?

Many parents become concerned when their child reaches an age when many children seem to develop spoken language, yet no independent words, or very few, are present. It can be helpful to understand general age-based guidelines.  

Typically, most kids say their first words around 12 months. These are usually “mom”, “dad”, “no” and “baby”. By 18 months, kids often say between five and 20 words. At the age of 2 (24 months), many children use 50+ words and begin combining simple two-word phrases. 

Something parents may not always realize is that a wide variety of skills develop before spoken language. Speech and language therapists at OASIS Pediatric Therapy have compiled a list of ways you can help if you’re concerned about your child’s speech. Prior to speaking, your child can benefit from building the following abilities:  

Turn-Taking Skills 

Verbal and non-verbal turn-taking during simple play forms the foundation for later conversation. Imitating facial expressions, such as making a silly face and watching to see if your child imitates it, is a related skill.  

Parent Tips: If your toddler is not yet imitating simple sounds, start by building back-and-forth interactions during play. Try rolling a ball back and forth or taking turns placing blocks one at a time on a block tower. Responding to your child’s vocalizations is the beginning of conversational turn-taking. If your child says “ah,” say “ah” back to see if they will repeat it.  

Use of Gestures to Communicate 

Gestures are so important in development. Research shows that children who are delayed in using gestures early on may also experience delays in spoken language later. The good news is that gestures can be taught through everyday interactions. 

Parent Tips– Model waving to toys and staying “hi” and “bye” during play (like hide-and-seek). Use stuffed animals to demonstrate actions, such as raising arms, while saying “up.” Blow kisses to family members or photos. Play favorite songs and create simple gestures to go along with them, turn it into a dance party!  Even simple head shakes for “yes” and “no” can become fun, engaging games that encourage interaction. 

Model Pointing to Items Upon Request  

Joint attention is the ability for two people to focus on the same object or activity. This skill develops over time and plays an important role in communication development.  

Parent Tips– Point to objects and say their names throughout the day. Try pairing labels with routines. For example, during diaper changes, hold up each item and name it. During breakfast, practice pointing to and stating the name of each food as it is served. Even if your little one doesn’t repeat the names after you, understanding typically develops before spoken language. 

Attaching Meaning to Babbling and Body Language 

I like to call this “Fake It Until You Make It”. If your child babbles, try to shape it into a word with meaning to match the child’s perspective or interests. For example, if your child says “duh” while walking away from a toy, I might say, “Done. Sounds good, you’re done.” Or you can find a nearby item to give to the child to match the verbalization. For example, if the child says “bah” during play, I might try to grab a nearby ball and say “ball” while handing it to the child. Over time, this helps build a connection between sounds and meaning. 

If you have questions, comments or concerns about your child’s speech development, our speech therapists in Greeley and throughout the Front Range are here to support you and your toddler. Contact us today. 

Written by: Jen Weirauch, MA, CCC-SLP