How Can We Encourage Communication Skills In Our Toddler?

Some toddlers can’t seem to keep from communicating. Many parents wait and wait anxiously until their toddler starts talking, and then once they do, they never seem to stop! Other children move a bit slower when it comes to communication skills. The toddler who wont talk or cant seem to communicate can be worrisome to a parent. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to encourage communication skills in your toddler.

One of the most important ways that children learn is through observation. An essential part of encouraging any skill in your toddler, particularly communication skills, is to lead by example. From infancy, it is important that you talk to your child. Let your child observe you communicating. When you’re in the car, tell your child where you are going, and what your day will be like. Sing to and with your child. Read books to your child. Talk with your toddler about how her day was, and what she might do tomorrow.

Another way to encourage communication skills in your toddler is through play. By playing pretend games, such as having a tea party, you can encourage her to interact with you. You can make a pretend voice for his toy truck, and pretend that it is talking to his toy airplane. You can also do “pretend reading,” where you give him a book and let him tell you the story in the book in his own words, or even to just make up words and sounds and make believe that he is reading the book to you.

By the time your toddler is three, she should be quite adept at using language, and able to learn concepts through language. If you believe that your toddler may have some sort of problem with communication, there can be a number of causes. Communication problems can include hearing trouble, speech problems, or problems learning language. Your health care provider can point you in the right direction if you believe that your toddler has some problems with communication. Many speech and communications disorders are very treatable, and can greatly benefit from professional help.

Posted in Baby and Toddler