“Ooooo! Look what you did! Tell me about it,” I exclaimed to my youngest daughter. While my eyes only registered three blue blobs and a brown smudge, I knew my toddler saw something more. After all, she created this masterpiece. So, rather than falling back on “good job,” I encouraged her to talk about what she did. Turns out those blue blobs went by the names of Mommy, Daddy, and Emmy. And that brown smudge? The family pup.
Words can be tricky for little ones, and every child develops at a unique pace. However, art can create an outlet for communication and provide kids with a starting point for expressing themselves. So, if you’re wondering how to encourage your toddler to talk, pull out the art supplies, and use these 4 ideas to coax communication.
1. Encourage her to express her emotions through coloring.
Put on music and ask her to color how she feels listening to the music. Then, describe the emotions you see and ask her questions. For example, “All of the yellow circles you drew remind me of the sun. I know you love playing outside. Did you feel happy listening to that song?”
Art offers your child a nonverbal way to process and communicate complex feelings through colors, shapes, and even how gently (or not) she presses crayon to paper. While she may not yet know the words to label her emotions, she certainly knows how to express them in other ways. It’s why she squeals and runs with joy toward you when you walk in the door or turns “frustration red” when a situation takes a turn she doesn’t appreciate.
2. Lead him to make up stories about his drawings.
Ask questions about his drawings to lead your child to create a story. How to encourage your toddler to talk can be as simple as asking: “Will you tell me what you drew? A dragon? What’s his name? How does he spend his day? Who is his best friend? Does he love mac
and cheese as much as you do?” For some families, starting with pre-printed coloring pages can more easily open the door to storytelling.
Storytelling fosters vocabulary development and the ability to paint vivid pictures with words. Plus, he can practice sequencing skills, which is just a fancy way to say “putting things in the right order.” Over time (and with your support), he’ll gain more and more confidence in sharing his ideas and thoughts, which translates to improved communication.
3. Give her practice collaborating by creating something together.
Try one of these eight art activities for toddlers or create one big painting together. Grab a poster board and finger paints. Let your child pick the subject matter. As you dip your fingers in the paint, share ideas on where to start, what to paint next, and even what colors go where.
Making art with your little one teaches valuable collaboration skills, such as taking turns, sharing ideas, and working toward a shared masterpiece. You’re also modeling active listening by following her lead, responding to her choices, and talking about the creation process. These skills become building blocks for strong verbal communication, helping your toddler express herself clearly and confidently.
In a research study published in the Society for Research in Child Development, scientists showed how responsive interactions make a difference for language learning. “Interactions allow adults and toddlers to respond to each other in a back-and-forth fashion… These types of interactions seem to be central for learning words,” explains Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, the co-author.
4. Teach her new words by describing what she sees and feels.
Whether scribbling with markers or molding with clay, describe colors, shapes, and textures during art activities with your child to develop a rich and varied vocabulary. For example, say: “Let’s play with the bright blue Play-Doh. We can squish it and squeeze it like this to get it soft. Then roll it out until it’s flat and smooth.”
Before HGTV, we all thought gray was, well, gray. Then, that certain Waco-based home show expanded our vocabulary with shades like Amazing Gray, Oyster Pearl, and Passive Gray. Art does the same thing for your child. From the vibrant hues of “cerulean” and “magenta” to the textures of “velvety” and “scratchy,” every artistic experience presents a hands-on opportunity to expand your child’s vocabulary. Plus, talking about it during the creation process makes it easier for your toddler to grasp new words and concepts because he’s learning in context.
How do you encourage your toddler to talk when he’s struggling to express himself verbally?
