How do I teach my toddler to talk? - Part 2 (of many)
In one of our previous blog posts (How do I teach my toddler to talk? - Part 1), we discussed the use of Modeling to elicit new words and sounds from your little one. To review, Modeling is the use of providing a child with an example of an utterance you want him/her to say (e.g., “Mom” or “baby sleep”) without providing any other accompanying verbal direction for the child to repeat the utterance. In this blog post, we will discuss 2 other strategies that can be used to help get your child talking more: self-talk and parallel talk.
Children learn by listening to and emulating what they hear around them. When they are consistently provided with simple examples of language at their level, they are more likely to expand their expressive vocabulary and ability to use phrases and sentences. Therefore, self-talk and parallel talk are significant tools used in language facilitation of toddlers; however, it is important that they are utilized correctly. That is why it is important to know at what level to speak to your child. Here are some examples:
If your child is babbling or has few single words, speak to him/her using only one word at a time. For example: while playing with cars you can say, “beep,” or “go.”
If your child is consistently using single words, speak to him/her using 2-3 words at a time. For example: during bath time, you can say, “bubble pop,” or “you take bath.”
If your child is using phrases consistently, speak to him/her using 4-5 words at a time. For example: during lunch time you can say, “you are eating macaroni,” or “I want some pizza.”
The key is speaking to your child one level above how they are speaking so that they can learn how to string more words together from your example.
Now let’s get into the strategies highlighted in this post:
Self-talk is when you narrate what you are doing in a particular activity. For example, while playing with dolls, the you can say, “I brush hair,” or “drink milk”
Parallel talk is when you narrate what the child is doing. For example, “ you like cars,” or “baby go sleep.”
Some things to keep in mind while using these 2 strategies:
After you say a word or phrase while playing with your toddler, do not provide any additional verbal direction for your child to repeat you (e.g., say, “baby eat”). During this time, provide your child with examples at their level without expecting that he/she repeats you. The less pressure a child feels to talk, the more likely they will.
Allow for time after you say an utterance or two before saying something else. Allowing for silence during play time is recommended because it allows your child to verbalize when he/she feels comfortable.
Participate in activities that interest your child and follow your child’s direction. If your child is playing with animals, try not to direct your his/her attention to dolls as a child is more likely to talk while playing with activities that interest him/her.
Do not ask questions during this time. Young children who are just beginning to talk learn better from examples than answering questions.
As you change the way you speak to your child, and as you provide him/her with more examples, they will likely begin repeating you more often. If you are concerned about your toddler’s speech or language abilities, contact a speech-language pathologist to help you navigate how to use these techniques.