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   The information here will provide you with a general understanding about speech-language development in toddlers and ways to improve your child’s communication skills.

  

   If you are a parent or caregiver who is concerned about your child’s development, and have not already done so, you should contact the birth to 3-year-old program in your area. A comprehensive evaluation is advised to assess all areas of your child’s development in order to determine your child’s level of functioning in these areas (cognitive, social, behavioral, gross and fine motor, and language) and in order to develop goals specific to your child’s developmental needs.

   In addition, a child with a possible speech-language delay should have an audiological evaluation to assess their hearing – even if you do not suspect a hearing loss. A mild hearing loss can easily go unnoticed, but can affect a child’s speech-language development.

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                                   Toddlers

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     Most toddlers are social. They like attention. They are interested in people and can sense a person’s moods and friendliness. Toddlers want someone to play with them. They like to act silly and they laugh when they see someone act silly. When toddlers find something funny, they want it to happen again. And again. And again…

Toddlers watch us and imitate others. They learn this way.

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By 12 months, a child can begin to wave hi/bye, point, and begins to produce their first words. They also can extend their arm out to show an object to someone and give objects upon verbal request.

   At 24 months, a child uses 50 different words, is putting two words together to make phrases (e.g., “Bye Dada, Blue car, My ball), and beginning to use some three-word phrases.

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There are 3 things that you can start to do to help your child build their communication skills:

               

    TALK       SING      PLAY

 

  

   A parent/caregiver plays a significant role in their child’s speech-language development. You can learn how to recognize and create opportunities to model language during daily routines and during play. Learn strategies that speech therapists use that will be effective and make a difference in your child’s language development.

    If you are ready to become empowered in helping your child and ready to empower your child to begin communicating, then view the Videos posted on YouTube and click on Strategies to learn some ways a speech therapist models language during talking, singing, and playing that differs from what you may have been doing, so that you can learn how to model language effectively and begin to build your child’s communication skills NOW!