“Just tell me what you neeeeeed!” My heart broke for my friend as I listened to her plead with her 2-year-old. He whined and refused everything she offered—milk, strawberries, a red crayon, a purple crayon. She’d been struggling with how little he talked, especially compared to his older sister. She threw her hands up and said, “I don’t know if I should be concerned or if this is just his personality.”
Most toddlers say about 20 words by 18 months and 50 or more words by the time they turn 2. By age 3, they should routinely combine three or more words. But if your little one isn’t falling within these guides, don’t panic. In addition to guidance from your pediatrician, there are activities to help toddlers talk. Here are 5 they’ll love.
1. Read stories, not just books.
Every kind of book has its purpose. For a 6-month-old, a soft book with a page that crinkles, another with a furry bear, and another with a (surprise!) finger puppet are delights. They provide great ways to expose your baby to words and textures.
But once your child is older, progressing to books that have stories will help with language because, as you read aloud, her brain will be predicting what happens next. Rhyming books by authors like Dr. Seuss or my personal favorite author, Sandra Boynton, let your child predict words that are to come. Reading is one of the best activities to help toddlers talk, and it’s a sweet bonding opportunity, too.
2. Turn words into sentences.
“Up!” You don’t have to say no as those big eyes and chubby arms reach for you, motioning to be held, but try delaying your actions for just a sec. If your child uses single words to communicate, form sentences with them. “Do you want to be picked up?” or “I’d love to pick you up.” You’re building on words he knows and modeling speaking in complete sentences.
3. Plant a garden.
Sometimes there’s no need to create an activity to help toddlers talk—just narrate what you’re doing. One simple idea requires seeds, dirt, and water. As your child digs in the soil, describe how it feels—mushy, wet, cold. Are you planting marigolds? Point out the bright yellow petals in the picture on the seed packet. When it’s time to water the soil, let her take a sip and say, “Ah! That water is nice when you’re thirsty.”
Don’t have a green thumb or any outdoor space? No worries. Pick another activity that incorporates multiple senses (like baking cookies). It’ll bring your words to life.
4. Play “Can You Find It?”
Understanding comes before talking. If you’re only focused on speech, you might ignore another issue. Grab a basket and toss in a handful of objects of different colors, shapes, and textures. Then ask your toddler to hand you something red, something round, something soft. If you try different activities like this and it’s obvious he doesn’t understand or acknowledge you, talk to your pediatrician. He or she can check your child’s hearing and vision. And if your child’s chubby little hand reaches out and grabs the bright red truck, give him a big round of applause and rest easy, as speech could be right around the corner.
5. Sing the songs and recite the rhymes.
Patty cake might sound simple, but it’s genius. As your child claps, rolls her arms, pats invisible dough, and pretends to slide the cake into the oven, she’s learning language patterns. The repetition supports memory development and makes the words and phrases easy to repeat. It might drive you crazy, but it’s worth it when your little one’s vocabulary and ability to communicate flourishes.
What other activities to help toddlers talk have you tried?
