How to teach your toddler to talk


by Mother & Baby |
Updated on

Your baby's cute, fun, adorable... and may not be making much sense yet. Things take on a whole new exciting level when she reaches toddlerhood and starts with those first words.

Good job there’s plenty you can do to help her along...

1. Read together

Storytime isn’t just a fun way to wind down before bed. ‘Your child will learn an incredible amount from listening to your voice,’ says speech and language therapist Lauren Woodcock.

Engage her in conversation by pointing to pictures and asking, ‘What’s this?’ Inject as much enthusiasm into your voice as possible – research shows that talking in a singsong voice helps increase your baby’s understanding of words.

2. Be patient

All children speak slowly and stumble over words for the first few years, but avoid finishing her sentences – you’ll knock her confidence and she’ll lose the motivation to express herself. Active listening skills are key. Get down to her level – eye contact is a huge part of communication and lets her know she has your attention.

If you don’t understand, be honest and ask her to repeat it. ‘It might take several attempts, but it’s better than saying, “That’s lovely”, when she’s just asked for more juice,’ says Lauren.

 3. Sing!

Songs and nursery rhymes help develop speech. ‘They’re fun, and the more your child enjoys something, the more engaged she’ll be,’ says David Messer, head of Childhood Development and Learning at the Open University.

Games like Round And Round The Garden teach toddlers about taking turns, which is effectively the first rule of conversation. Be warned: kids love repetition and it helps them learn, so expect to hear ‘Again! Again!’ a lot.

4. Explore the world

If you want your toddler to talk, give her something to talk about. ‘Discuss the world around you – the more you share with her, the greater her understanding and vocabulary will be,’ says child development expert Sue Gascoyne.

One way to help is to expand everything she says by one word – so, if she says, ‘Car’, you say, ‘Yes, a blue car’.

Meals are another important time for communication. ‘Use them as a way for your child to explore the different foods she’s eating,’ says Sue. ‘Talk about it by asking, “Is that yummy?” or “How does that taste?”’

5. Enjoy some quiet time

TV doesn’t have to be bad – but having it on constantly can discourage your child’s ear from tuning into certain sounds. ‘Plus, it will distract you and prevent you from talking to her as much,’ says Sue. Watch TV as a treat together, so you can talk about what’s happening and ask questions.

Popular articles to read next

Baby development milestones

The best baby memory books for recording their milestones

Baby speech milestones

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us
How we write our articles and reviews
Mother & Baby is dedicated to ensuring our information is always valuable and trustworthy, which is why we only use reputable resources such as the NHS, reviewed medical papers, or the advice of a credible doctor, GP, midwife, psychotherapist, gynaecologist or other medical professionals. Where possible, our articles are medically reviewed or contain expert advice. Our writers are all kept up to date on the latest safety advice for all the products we recommend and follow strict reporting guidelines to ensure our content comes from credible sources. Remember to always consult a medical professional if you have any worries. Our articles are not intended to replace professional advice from your GP or midwife.