5 steps to encourage speech and language development in young children
1. Keep your language simple.
Don’t be too wordy. Young children don’t process language the way adults do. They typically process the last 3 words you say. So, short and simple phrases are the best way to get your message across.
2. Talk to your child.
You are your child’s best language model, so don’t forget to talk to them. It doesn’t have to be complicated. You can talk to them about their bath time, sorting laundry, or while exploring your backyard.
3. Read to your child.
It doesn’t matter how young your child is. You are helping to develop your child’s listening skills, attention skills, exposure to new vocabulary, sound/symbol recognition and other pre-literacy skills.
4. Play with your child.
We learn words through play. Young children learn language through experiencing it. Don’t be afraid to play the same game over and over. Children learn through repetition.
5. Taking turns.
You have to learn to take turns while playing before you can learn to have a conversation.