Language Development in Toddlers
When it comes to a toddler’s language development, there is a lot of variability in the timeline. Do not let arbitrary numbers of new words per week be the determining factor of whether your child is “on track.” There are many factors not usually accounted for in conventional “milestone” lists that may impact your child’s development. Some of these factors include:
Social environment: Children who spend a lot of time with other children might have accelerated speech proficiency.
Speech or hearing difficulties: Children with speech or hearing difficulties might have trouble picking up on certain sounds or language conventions; if you suspect this might be the case for your child, consult a healthcare provider.
A bilingual/multilingual home: Children who grow up learning multiple languages at the same time may appear to have a smaller vocabulary in each language, but end up fully fluent in both. When it comes to learning multiple languages, the earlier the exposure the better.
Language aquisition is a critical cognitive task, and it is important to foster an encouraging learning environment. Here are some things you can do to support your child’s language development at home:
Talk constantly but slowly, and avoid baby talk: Create an environment in which communicating verbally is calm and constant. It is also important that your child is spoken to maturely, so try to avoid baby talk.
Read the same 3-5 simple books over and over: At a young age, repeating the same words from a few stories will allow your child to learn the words and their meaning much quicker.
Make it fun: Incorporate language “lessons” into play time. Ask questions (and follow up questions) about the toys they grab, the room you’re in, or anything around to practice making connections between objects and words.
Do not forget emotion words: Don't just teach colors and objects, respond to their behavior with emotion words like “you seem like you are sad/happy/mad” depending on their behavior. It is important for them to associate their feelings and behaviors with simple words to help them communicate.
If you are at all concerned about your child’s language development, consult your healthcare provider for advice.
