Has your toddler gained the “gift of gab?” Sometimes, those skills are a little slow in developing. Believe it or not, about 20 percent of children experience some delay in their speech that keeps them from communicating as fast as their peers. If, by age 2, a child still isn’t speaking, it’s time to consult a pediatrician.
Here are five tips on how to loosen your little one’s tongue.
- Have a conversation. Toddlers often don’t start talking simply because their vocabulary is lacking. Remember, even if your child isn’t yet speaking, he or she probably comprehends what you’re saying. So, talk, talk and talk some more.
- Use complete sentences when describing objects. Avoid simply pointing to a pen, and saying “Pen.” Use sentences like, “This is a pen, and I use it to write. Look how the ink comes out when I drag it across paper.”
- Read to your toddler, especially simple picture books. Point to words and pictures.
- Sing songs. It’s fun, and it’s a great way to build their vocabulary base.
- Don’t do all your teaching inside the home. Expose your toddler to the outside world. Put them in situations where they’ll interact with other kids their age. Sometimes speech delay can be related to shyness, so get your child out there.
To learn more about boosting your tot’s speaking skills, check out this article from BoldSky.com.