how to do speech therapy for 2 year old

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Speech Therapy for Toddlers

What is speech therapy.

• Language Development
• Signs of Delay
• Speech Therapy Activities
• A Parent's Role

Frequently Asked Questions

Speech therapy is a treatment led by a speech and language pathologist (SLP) or speech therapist. It helps a person communicate and speak more clearly. Toddlers may develop language or speech impairments due to illness, hearing problems, or brain disorders.

This article covers speech and language milestones, causes of speech disorders, diagnosis, what happens in speech therapy, and how parents can help their toddlers. 

Dragana991 / Getty Images

Speech therapy is a treatment that helps a person speak or communicate more effectively. It is performed by specially trained speech and language pathologists (SLPs) or speech therapists. They help their patients better understand others, pronounce words clearly, or put words together. 

There are different types of speech therapy and their use will depend on the age of the child and what they are experiencing. For example, therapy practices vary for children with apraxia (difficulty pronouncing different syllables), stuttering, aphasia (difficulty speaking due to damage to the brain), and difficulty swallowing, and for late talkers.

Language Development (Newborn to Toddler)

While delay does not always mean there’s a problem, it’s important to recognize when a toddler misses a developmental milestone. The following are general guidelines of speech and language development for babies and toddlers:

Newborns communicate through crying. Their cries may sound the same at first but start to vary as they grow. They also cry to express emotions, and parents begin to understand what different cries mean.

High-Pitched Crying

A high-pitched cry not resolved by comforting or eating may mean that an infant is experiencing discomfort or pain.

Newborns pick up on rhythms of speech and their parents' voices within the first few weeks of life. Between 1 and 4 months old, they become more alert to sounds and may startle more easily or turn to look for the source of the noise. 

Around 2 to 3 months old, infants start smiling and cooing, which often sounds like "ah" or "eh." Babies begin laughing by 3 to 4 months old.  

By 5 or 6 months old, infants imitate adult sounds produced by babbling or shrieking. Babbling involves repeating sounds such as "ba," "ma," or "ga."  

7–12 Months

Seven-month-old infants hear words as distinct sounds and try to repeat them. By 9 months old, they start to understand expressions and simple commands like "no," recognize words for objects, and respond to their names.

Ten- to 12-month-olds follow simple commands such as "give mommy your cup." They also begin to say simple words such as "dada" or "bye-bye."

A Toddler's First Words

Most 1-year-olds can say a few words such as “up” or “dog” but do not put words together in a sentence.

13–18 Months

By 18 months, a toddler puts two words together and says phrases such as "push it." They often communicate in gestures that get more complex over time.

Toddlers this age start recognizing objects, body parts, pictures, or people. For example, if you ask, "Where is your nose?," they will be able to point to it.  

19–24 Months

By 24 months old, toddlers know and say 50 or more words. They start to form two- to three-word sentences. Two-year-olds can usually communicate their needs, such as “I want more milk,” and follow two-step commands.

Speech and Language Developmental Timeline

Children develop at different speeds and may not follow the typical timeline. If you are concerned about the delay, contact your pediatrician or healthcare provider as soon as possible. Early treatment can make a difference.

Signs of Speech or Language Delay in Toddlers

The following are general guidelines to help parents know if they should have their young child evaluated for speech or language problems:

• A baby who does not vocalize or respond to sound
• A 1-year-old who does not use gestures, such as pointing
• An 18-month-old who would rather use gestures than sounds
• An 18-month-old who has difficulty imitating sounds or understanding simple requests
• A 2-year-old who imitates speech but doesn’t talk spontaneously
• A 2-year-old who can say words but not communicate more than their immediate needs or follow simple directions
• A 2-year-old who has a raspy or nasal-sounding voice

Understanding the Words of a Toddler

Parents and regular caregivers usually understand about 50% of a toddler’s speech by 2 years old and 75% by 3 years old.

Speech or language delays can occur due to problems with the structures of the mouth, head injuries, chronic illnesses, or brain disorders.  

If the cause is a brain disorder, it can be difficult to coordinate their tongue, lips, and mouth to make sounds or words. 

Hearing problems can make it difficult to imitate or understand language. This is not always a problem that is apparent at birth. Chronic ear infections can cause hearing damage in one or both ears.

A speech therapist will perform tests with your toddler to check the following:

• What your child understands
• What your child can say 
• Clarity of speech
• How the structures in their mouth work together to form words and eat

The following are diagnostic tests or scales a speech therapist may perform with your toddler:

• Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III) : Bayley-III is used worldwide to measure all aspects of development from birth to 42 months. A speech therapist administers the language portion by watching the child follow instructions and identify people and objects. It helps them know if the child is on track or needs further evaluation. 
• Preschool Language Scales–Fifth Edition (PLS)-5 English : The PLS-5 is an interactive screening tool designed for infants and young children. Speech therapists measure all areas of language through a play-based approach. 
• Differential Ability Scales Assessment–Second Edition (DAS-II) : The DAS-II provides a scale to help speech therapists better understand how a child processes information. This allows them to develop appropriate activities for therapy.
• Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation 3 (GFTA-3) : The GFTA-3 involves asking a child to identify colorful drawings and measures their ability to pronounce consonants.
• The Rossetti Infant-Toddler Language Scales: This test is specifically designed for children from birth to 36 months old. It involves a parent interview, as well as observation of the child performing tasks.

What Happens During Speech Therapy?

The speech therapist will plan and perform activities to help your toddler with skills based on their specific needs. Therapy may occur in small groups or individually. 

Language building activities include using picture books, repetition, talking, and playing. If a toddler has difficulty pronouncing certain words, the therapist will teach them how to make the sound or say specific words. 

Sometimes speech therapists help toddlers with speech mechanics. This involves teaching them how to move their mouth or tongue to pronounce a word. They may also prescribe lip, tongue, or jaw exercises to continue at home.

What Concerns are Addressed During Speech Therapy?

Some of the concerns that SLPs may address during speech therapy include:  

• Speech mechanics
• Word pronunciation
• Volume or quality of speech
• Social communication skills
• Trouble swallowing

How Can Parents Help?

It helps to talk and read to your child frequently. Use correct names and speak in a slow and clear voice. When giving direction, keep things simple. Kneeling to their level can them focus on what you are saying.

If your child points at a glass of water, help them connect the gesture and language by asking, “Do you want water?” When they don’t pronounce words accurately, emphasize the correct pronunciation when responding.

Waiting for a Response

When asking a question such as “Do you want a drink?,” try waiting for a response. This helps your toddler learn to communicate back to you. 

Chronic illnesses, brain disorders, and hearing problems can cause a toddler to have delayed speech or language development. Speech therapy can help them learn to communicate more effectively. 

Parents can help by talking to their children often, speaking clearly, and emphasizing correct pronunciation. If your child is in speech therapy, it’s helpful to perform exercises prescribed by your speech therapist at home.

A Word From Verywell

Not all children follow a typical timeline for speech and language development. Sometimes they are focused on learning a new task, such as walking, and put language development on the back burner. They often catch up later. 

If your toddler is experiencing a language or speech delay, talk with your child’s healthcare provider. If there is a problem, getting help early can make a difference.

A toddler should start speech therapy any time after 3 months old if they experience developmental delays in speech or language. This may seem young, but a speech therapist can monitor the signs if there is a delay. Early intervention can make an impact. 

The estimated national average cost for the United States is $218 per session. However, many insurances and most state Medicaid programs cover speech therapy. It can be helpful to find an in-network clinic to decrease your out-of-pocket expenses. 

Nemours Kids Health. Delayed speech or language development . KidsHealth.org.

Durkin MJ. From Infancy to the Elderly: Communication throughout the Ages. Nova Science Publishers; 2011.

Meadows-Oliver M. Pediatric Nursing Made Incredibly Easy. 3rd Edition. Wolters Kluwer; 2019.

University of Michigan Health. Speech and language milestones, birth to 1 year .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Important milestones: Your baby by nine months .

American Academy of Pediatrics. Language delays in toddlers: Information for parents . Healthychildren.org.

Nemours Kids Health. Communication and your 1-to-2 year old . KidsHealth.org.

NAPA Center. Speech therapy for children: What are the benefits? .

Garro, A. Early Childhood Assessment in School and Clinical Child Psychology . Springer; 2016.

Ross, K. Speech-Language Pathologists in Early Childhood . Plural Publishing; 2015.

DeVeney SL. Clinical challenges: Assessing toddler speech sound productions . Semin Speech Lang. 2019 Mar;40(2):81-93. doi: 10.1055/s-0039-1677759.

NAPA Center. 5 tips to help your toddler’s speech development by a speech therapist .

Wooster Community Hospital. At what age should speech therapy begin? .

MDsave. Speech therapy visit .

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Introduction to Medicaid .

By Brandi Jones, MSN-ED RN-BC Jones is a registered nurse and freelance health writer with more than two decades of healthcare experience.

Appointments at Mayo Clinic

• Infant and toddler health

Should I be concerned that my 2-year-old doesn't say many words and is hard to understand?

Talk to your child's health care provider if you can understand only a few or none of your 2-year-old's words. A delay using words or talking can be an early sign of other issues. Your toddler's provider can refer you to health professionals who test children for these issues.

Every child grows and develops at their own pace. But toddler speech development tends to follow a fairly set path. For example, by age 2, most children can:

• Use simple two-word phrases, such as "more milk."
• Ask one- or two-word questions, such as "Go bye-bye?"
• Follow simple commands and understand simple questions.
• Speak about 50 to 100 words.
• Be understood at least half the time by adults who don't know the child.

Between the ages of 2 and 3, most children:

• Speak in two- and three-word phrases or sentences.
• Use at least 200 words and as many as 1,000 words.
• Ask questions that start with who, what, where or why, such as "Where is mommy?"
• Say their first name when asked.
• Refer to themselves with pronouns, such as I, me, my or mine.
• Can be understood most of the time by familiar listeners, such as family members.

If your child might have a condition that causes a speech delay, your child's health care provider may suggest that you see a hearing or speech professional.

For example, hearing problems are checked by an audiologist. A speech-language pathologist checks for communication problems. If your child hears or speaks two languages, see a bilingual speech-language pathologist so your child can get tested in both languages.

In the United States, you can get your child tested through a government-funded early intervention program. This offers services and support to children with delays in development or disabilities. Each state and territory has an early intervention program, and some programs include speech therapy.

The way speech delay is treated in toddlers depends on the cause. When treated early, these delays and the problems that can cause them often get better over time.

Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.

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• Infant growth rates
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• Kliegman RM, et al. Language development and communication disorders. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 24, 2023.
• One to two years: What should my child be able to do? American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/12.htm. Accessed Jan. 24, 2023.
• Speech and language concerns. Pediatric Care Online. https://publications.aap.org/pediatriccare. Accessed Jan. 24, 2023.
• Is your toddler communicating with you? Pediatric Patient Education. https://publications.aap.org/patiented. Accessed Jan. 24, 2023.
• Kliegman RM, et al. The second year. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 24, 2023.
• Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Feb. 22, 2019.
• Important milestones: Your child by three years. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-3yr.html. Accessed Jan. 24, 2023.
• What is early intervention? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/parents/states.html. Accessed Jan. 27, 2023.
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• Raising Kids

What Is Speech Therapy?

If your child needs speech therapy, you're not alone. Here's everything you need to know about speech therapy for kids and toddlers.

How Does Speech Therapy Work?

What does speech therapy treat, signs a child may need speech therapy.

• What is Early Intervention Speech Therapy?
• Speech Therapy for Toddlers

Speech Therapy for Elementary-Aged Kids

What about private speech therapy, what age is best to start speech therapy, how parents can refer their child for speech therapy, does insurance cover speech therapy, how long will my child be in speech therapy, how effective is speech therapy.

Prostock-Studio / Getty Images

If your child is currently in speech therapy or you're wondering if they might be a candidate for it, you're not alone. According to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), almost 8% of children in the United States have a communication or swallowing disorder. It doesn't mean you've done anything wrong, but it can be tough for families. The good news is speech therapy can make a difference.

So, what is speech therapy and how can it help? Here’s everything you need to know. 

Speech therapy is the treatment of communication, voice, and feeding/swallowing disorders by a trained professional.

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have a master's degree in speech-language pathology and specialize in evaluating, diagnosing, treating, and preventing these disorders. SLPs hold a license to practice in their state. 

You may also come across ASHA-certified SLPs. They have taken an additional step to pass a national exam and complete an ASHA-accredited supervised clinical fellowship.

There are various reasons a child may need speech therapy. Common ones include:  

1. Speech sound disorders. This means a child has difficulty with the production of speech sounds and how we combine them into words.

2. Language disorders. A child will have difficulty understanding and/or using language to communicate. Language disorders may impact vocabulary development, grammar, as well as the ability to tell a story, follow directions, answer questions, and more.

3. Social communication disorder/pragmatic language disorder . In this case, a child will have difficulty using language to socialize. This may include difficulty understanding social cues, taking turns during conversation, initiating or maintaining a conversation, and understanding personal space. A social communication disorder often leads to difficulty forming friendships. Children with these language barriers may have a concurrent diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder .

4. Cognitive - communication disorder . This includes difficulty with memory, reasoning, problem solving, and organization, impacting the ability to communicate.

5. Voice disorder . Children will have differences in voice quality (e.g., being too hoarse or too nasal).

6. Fluency disorder/stuttering . Kids will have difficulty maintaining a smooth flow of speech. A fluency disorder may include repetitions of sounds within words, prolongations of parts of words, and/or pauses in speech.

7. Feeding/swallowing disorder . This presents as a difficulty with sucking, chewing, and/or swallowing food or liquid.

Children may need speech therapy when they have not acquired speech/language milestones by an expected age. While milestones can vary from child to child, parents should refer their child for an evaluation if they have any concerns. Evaluation, which may include both standardized and non-standardized testing as well as observation, can help diagnose a speech/language disorder.

Some signs that may indicate a need for speech therapy include:

• A child isn't babbling by 6-7 months
• The child is having difficulty with feeding and/or swallowing
• A child beyond the age of 1 has no words
• A child beyond the age of 2 is not combining words into phrases
• The child's speech is difficult to understand
• The child is omitting syllables or sounds in words
• Speech errors are noticed during conversation
• The child has difficulty following directions or understanding spoken language
• The child has difficulty answering questions
• The child has a smaller vocabulary than what is expected for their age
• The child is stuttering
• The child's voice quality has changed or is noticeably hoarse or nasal
• The child has difficulty communicating with others socially
• The child has hearing loss
• The child has a cleft lip or palate

What is Early Intervention Speech Therapy? 

Early intervention refers to state-funded evaluations and interventions—including speech therapy—for children, ages birth to 3, and their families. In some states, early intervention continues until the age of 5. While professionals may refer a child to early intervention, parents can also refer their child on their own.

Speech Therapy for Toddlers 

Speech therapy for toddlers usually resembles play where toys are used to elicit target skills, says Dominica Lumb, M.S., CCC-SLP, who has over 30 years of experience conducting speech therapy with children in various settings. 

Children are given choices during play to encourage the need to communicate. While working on language skills, toddlers are encouraged to request objects, ask questions, answer questions, and use appropriate vocabulary.

Parents may be included in therapy sessions at this age. They may be taught to model speech sounds or how to label objects and actions during everyday routines to enhance vocabulary development.

Speech therapy can also work differently depending on a child’s needs. For example, one may require a mode of communication that differs from speaking. That’s referred to as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and may include picture boards or computers/iPads for communicating through text or voice synthesizer. This can begin in early intervention and beyond.

Speech therapy at this stage is typically more structured. Games are often used for motivation, but goals are targeted through practice and repetition. Children practice new skills throughout a continuum until they're able to use these skills naturally in all environments.

After early intervention, children may continue receiving services in elementary school through an individualized education plan (IEP). The IEP is written by all specialists who will be working with the child. It states the child's goals and documents any accommodations the child may need to meet them.

Therapy at this age may follow a “pull-out” model where a child receives support in a separate classroom or a “push-in” model where an SLP provides services within the regular classroom. This model can change throughout the duration of therapy. For example, a child working on the correct production of a sound will typically begin with pull-out therapy and, when ready, will be observed in their classroom to assess for carryover of this skill.

SLPs in the school setting also consult with teachers to provide the support children need to communicate effectively in the classroom.

While children must qualify for speech therapy through early intervention and in public schools, private practices can provide services beyond these standards.

Speech therapy in the private practice setting typically occurs one-on-one with the child receiving the SLP's undivided attention. But group therapy may occur when beneficial to the child.

"Therapy in the private practice setting is very child and family focused," explains Shanna Klump, M.S., CCC-SLP, CEO of Kid Connections Therapy in Severna Park, Maryland. "The family's goals for their child are often at the forefront of the work we do. In addition, parents and other family members often participate in the sessions to learn strategies that can be implemented at home to encourage generalization of skills."

Parents should refer their child for a speech/language evaluation when they first notice their child is falling behind in any area of speech/language or is no longer meeting speech/language milestones . It is never too late or too early to start therapy but, in general, earlier intervention leads to a better outcome. If you're unsure if your child requires speech therapy, a referral to an SLP is always recommended.

A parent can contact their local early intervention office to learn about speech therapy options. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides early intervention contacts by state. Parents can also reach out to their child's health care provider to determine where their local early intervention office is located.

A school-aged child can be referred for a speech/language evaluation by reaching out to the child's teacher or the school's SLP.

An evaluation by a private SLP is an option at any age, but evaluations through early intervention or a public school district are provided at no cost. ASHA ProFind connects parents to SLPs who have indicated they are accepting referrals.

While public school therapy is free, private outpatient speech/language therapy is often covered by health plans, but with limitations.

According to Klump, insurance coverage for speech therapy varies by state, insurance plan, and diagnosis. She explains that while some states require habilitative service coverage for children, others do not.

Often, private practices, including Klump's Kid Connections, complete a benefits verification before initiating speech evaluation or therapy. In her experience, therapy sessions without insurance coverage may cost between $100-150, depending on location.

As each health plan has its own coverage, it is important to reach out to your insurance company to determine your out-of-pocket costs.

Insurance and Speech Therapy Coverage

If you're looking to see what insurance covers, Shanna Klump, M.S., CCC-SLP, CEO of Kid Connections Therapy, suggests parents obtain the following information from their insurance carrier:

• Visit limit. This may be a hard or soft limit which refers to whether an extension of services could be granted if deemed medically necessary
• Whether the visit limit is combined with other services. For example, occupational therapy and physical therapy are sometimes grouped with speech therapy in the number of sessions covered
• Whether there are exclusions to coverage for different diagnoses
• If a deductible must be met
• The co-pay amount per session

Speech therapy can take anywhere from months to years. Each child makes progress at their own rate and has individualized goals based on their communication needs. Just as children develop and meet milestones individually, the time it takes them to master new skills will vary.

Speech therapy has been found to be effective for children. One study of more than 700 children with speech or language disorders up to 16 years old, found an average of six hours of speech therapy over six months significantly improved communication performance. Speech therapy was shown to be much more effective than no treatment over the same period.

Children of all ages typically find speech therapy engaging, fun, and rewarding. They're able to see their progress and use their newly learned skills proudly. Speech therapy is an effective way to enhance a child's ability to communicate and through these communication skills, a child will have better access to the world.

Is speech and language therapy effective for children with primary speech and language impairment? Report of a randomized control trial . International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders . 2011

Related Articles

Speech and Language Developmental Milestones for 2-Year-Olds

Erin Vollmer MS, CCC-SLP

• June 21, 2023

Two-Year-Old Speech and Language Milestones

So much happens in the first two years of your child’s life. We know that all children grow and develop at different rates, but we also know developmental milestones can be helpful as markers of progress in a child’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development. They are a guide for what to expect as a child grows and can help identify potential delays that may need additional support. Here are some key speech and language milestones to look out for before your child turns three. 

An increase in expressive vocabulary

At 2 years old, a toddler may have a vocabulary of around 50 words. Their language is characterized by a variety of word types, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, and pronouns. 

Verbs are words that describe an action or state of being. Two-year-olds will typically have a small number of verbs in their vocabulary, such as “go,” “come,” “eat,” and “sleep.”

Adjectives are words that describe a noun or pronoun. Two-year-olds may have a limited understanding of adjectives, but may use words like “big” and “little” to describe things.

Pronouns are words that replace nouns, such as “I,” “you,” “he,” “she,” “it,” “we,” and “they.” Two-year-olds may use pronouns like “me” and “mine” to refer to themselves and their possessions.

When it comes to vocabulary development , the more words your child understands and uses, the more he or she can continue to learn about the world around them.

Two word phrases

Examples of phrases we often see at age two are “more milk,” “no cookie,” “mama go” and “dada up.” In order for toddlers to combine words, they must have a solid number of words and a variety of words. As your child’s language develops, they will be able to combine words in a novel way and use language to express their thoughts. While most children build their vocabulary by continually increasing the length and complexity of their phrases, there are children that are gestalt learners . Instead of learning the meaning of one word at a time, these children start developing language by memorizing whole phrases ( Gestalt language acquisition ). They then work backwards into learning the meaning of the words that make up those phrases.

Ability to articulate

Two-year-olds are approximately 50% intelligible to unfamiliar listeners. Intelligibility refers to the amount of your child’s speech a listener can understand. It’s very common for 2-year-olds to make speech sound errors (often called developmental errors). For example, a child may say “wuv” when meaning to say “love.” As a rule of thumb, friends and family should understand at least half of what your child says at age two.

Receptive language growth

Receptive language refers to your child’s ability to understand the spoken language of others. Two year olds often understand more than they are able to express. They should be able to respond to simple questions, such as “Where’s your nose?” or “What’s that?” They should also be able to point to body parts when asked. When reading a book with your two-year old, they will be able to point to objects and pictures when named. At 2 years old, children can follow one-step directions consistently (i.e. “get your shoes”), as well as simple two-step related directions (i.e. “get your shoes and go to the door”).

Ability to interact with others

At this age, children typically engage in parallel play , but before their third birthday they will begin to show a greater interest in socializing with others . 2-year-olds enjoy participating in playgroups and classes. They should also be able to play with other children and take turns. Additionally, they should be starting to understand the concept of sharing and begin to show empathy towards others.

When to seek help if your child is delayed?

It’s important to note that every child develops at their own pace and some children may reach these milestones earlier or later than others. However, if there are significant delays or concerns, it is important to seek the advice of a healthcare professional.

Research has shown that early detection of communication disorders plays a major role in shorter treatment plans and faster recovery! If you have questions about your 2-year-old’s speech and language development, please feel free to  contact us . We are here to help!

TherapyWorks provides pediatric speech, occupational and physical therapies in-home or via teletherapy . 

Additional Two Year Old Milestones

Physical Development:

• Walks and runs with ease
• Climbs stairs with alternating feet
• Kicks a ball
• Throws a ball with some force
• Turns pages in a book
• Builds towers with blocks
• Uses utensils to eat

Cognitive Development:

• Follows simple instructions
• Understands concepts such as “in” and “on”
• Identifies basic shapes and colors
• Understands the concept of object permanence

Language Development:

• Vocabulary of around 50 words
• Can put two words together to form simple phrases
• Responds to simple questions
• Points to body parts when asked

Social and Emotional Development:

• Expresses emotions and desires through words and actions
• Plays with other children and takes turns
• Begins to understand the concept of sharing
• Shows empathy towards others
• Developing a sense of self and understanding of their place in the world
• Starting to show independence

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How to Do Speech Therapy at Home

iStockphoto / Mordolff

Like any other skill acquired in childhood, learning how to communicate clearly—both in terms of how you speak and the words you choose—is one that develops over the course of many months and years. Some kids begin babbling away early in toddlerhood while others remain the strong and silent type until they’re more comfortable with speech patterns.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), most children begin talking between 1 and 2 years of age. By age 2, most kids have a vast foundation of words to work with (think “ball,” “dog,” “Mama” or “Dada,” “cup,” “eat”) and are often putting words together into two-word questions and sentences.

If your child doesn’t seem to be falling within the range of normal for speech, it may not be a sign of a speech or language delay , but it also may be appropriate to begin engaging in some simple speech exercises with your child at home.

At-home speech therapy can be especially helpful for kids who aren’t easily frustrated and who have only mild delays or articulation errors, said Massachusetts-based pediatric speech therapist Alyssa Gusenoff. More serious problems, like speech regressions, should be brought up with a licensed speech therapist.

Here is a guide to performing basic speech therapy at home with your child, from first steps all the way through seeking outside help.

Assess Your Options 

There’s no reason to go it alone when it comes to speech therapy if there are resources in your community that can assist you. First, you should consult with your child’s pediatrician if you feel that your child has a speech delay or articulation issue. A pediatrician can share developmental milestones for speech and let you know if your child is actually struggling.

“It’s important to know what’s developmentally appropriate for speech and what’s simply parent-preferred,” Gusenoff said. “Parents without a pediatric background may not realize that 4 year olds don’t need the 'r' sound yet.”

Gusenoff said that many communities offer early intervention services for children who aren’t yet school-aged. If your child is already enrolled in school, your district may employ a speech therapist who can help you, too. Don’t be shy—ask around to see what’s available. Many services are provided free of charge for town residents.

Assess Your Child

If you’ve decided to try at-home speech therapy (either in lieu of professional services or, perhaps, while you wait for a therapist to become available), what works for your child will depend on several things.

Younger children will have a hard time focusing and concentrating on anything you call “therapy.” You can try to keep things fun and light, but a child too little to understand he’s making speech errors may not be receptive to correcting them. An older child can be more motivated to improve their speech because it means they will be better understood by peers and caregivers.

Temperament

Again, kids who are not easily frustrated are more likely to work on speech with a parent. Kids with a low frustration tolerance may view therapy as a negative experience.

Type of Speech Involvement Needed

There will be different approaches to therapy if your child has a speech delay (they have far fewer words than they should at their age) versus an articulation problem (they make a “t” sound instead of a hard “c” sound). 

Co-Existing Conditions

If your child is simply behind in this one area, it may be easier for you to slowly catch them up over time at home. If a speech issue occurs along with another developmental condition, like autism, you may want to seek professional help.

Experiment with At-Home Methods

Once you’re ready to forge ahead, you can try a variety of approaches to helping your child improve their speech. Here are some of Gusenoff’s favorite strategies.

Stop Anticipating Your Child’s Needs

It’s tempting, we know, to jump for what your child wants whenever they simply point at it—but doing so doesn’t encourage them to use their words. Give them a chance to ask for the pretzels, Gusenoff said, rather than grabbing them as soon as your child points to the cabinet.

Minimize Pacifier Usage

If your older toddler or preschooler is still using a pacifier, it can be very hard to break the habit , but it’s also very hard to talk with a pacifier in your mouth, so continuing to use one when speech is developing can interrupt the process.

Offer Choices

Instead of saying, “What would you like to drink?” ask your child “Would you like milk or juice?” A child struggling to build vocabulary will benefit from hearing the options and being able to choose one, rather than being expected to pull the correct word out of thin air. 

Increase Visibility

“When you say the name of an object, hold the object up towards your mouth so your child sees your mouth move,” Gusenoff recommended. This creates an immediate visual connection between the object and the way the word for that object is formed in the mouth.

Take turns repeating words to each other (example: “I’ll say ‘apple’ and then you say ‘apple.’ Ready? ‘Apple.’ Your turn!”). Peek-a-boo games also encourage speech by keeping a child’s attention, as do hiding games. Gusenoff said hiding objects around the house, like hiding small objects inside playdough, and keeping objects reserved inside containers can all encourage kids to ask questions, make exclamations, and request assistance.

Prompt and Withhold (Within Reason)

If your child is struggling because they simply haven’t had a lot of opportunities to practice various types of speech, you’ll have to learn to get comfortable making them feel mildly un comfortable sometimes. Don’t push your child to the brink of tears, but it’s okay to pause or hang back to see if your child can eventually solve their own problem when they need something.

For example, Gusenoff said you can help your child put on one shoe—then get up and walk away. Does your child call after you to get your attention? If so, ask him what he needs (you know the answer, but pretend like you don’t!). The goal here is to encourage your child to communicate for himself, rather than always relying on you to do all the talking.

Most children learn best when things are repeated over and over (and over!) again, and that’s often true for speech as well. When your child says a word correctly, repeat it back to him in a positive tone. If your child makes an articulation error, Gusenoff said, repeat it back to them incorrectly so they can hear what they actually said versus what they think they said. Some kids may not realize they’re making an error until mom or dad repeats it back to them!

Make Lots of Observations

Now that you’re spending dedicated time at home on speech therapy, it’s important to start tracking your child’s progress. Gusenoff said it’s easy to forget or overlook where your child is starting out when learning a new skill, meaning you can underestimate the amount of progress they’ve made. Keep a record or log so you can visually track your efforts.

Gusenoff also recommends paying attention to what words you can understand from your child compared with what a grandparent, for example, and a total stranger can understand. There will be differences between those three metrics (i.e. you can understand 75 percent, your mother-in-law can understand 50 percent, and a stranger can understand 25 percent), but there shouldn’t be enormous gaps between each tier. According to Nemours, most people—regardless of how well they know your child—should be able to understand the majority of your child's speech by the time they turn 4.

Know Your Limitations

It’s important to understand that you may be able to guide and assist your child at home, helping to develop much-needed skills, but you may not be able to correct more significant problems without a professional. It’s one thing to help your child say his “d” and “b” sounds more clearly, but it’s another thing to teach him how to form more complex sounds involving the tongue or back of the throat.

Gusenoff added that kids who are very frustrated by their speech problems, who regress or don’t make any progress, who grope for sounds but are unable to move their mouths, and kids who experience quality of life issues because of communication errors or delays are not the best candidates for at-home speech therapy and would benefit from professional help.

If you’ve reached the limit of what you can provide for your child yourself, try not to take it as a personal offense. Instead, do what you can and then reach out for more help. Your child’s pediatrician is a great place to start—they often know all of the local resources and can point you in the right direction.

American Academy of Pediatrics. Language Delays in Toddlers: Information for Parents .

Nemours Foundation. Delayed Speech or Language Development .

By Sarah Bradley Sarah Bradley has been writing parenting content since 2017, after her third son was born. Since then, she has expanded her expertise to write about pregnancy and postpartum, childhood ages and stages, and general health conditions, including commerce articles for health products. Because she has been homeschooling her sons for seven years, she is also frequently asked to share homeschooling tips, tricks, and advice for parenting sites.

Speech Therapy Activities For Toddlers

When your toddler has a speech delay, it may be tough to help build confidence with their communication skills. 

Keep a calm, patient, positive attitude. The more time you spend working with your child, the better their speech skills will develop over time!

Don’t let your anxiety make them feel pressured to speak clearly.

We’ve compiled a number of activities, games, toys, and tips for you to make progress today, all in the comfort of your own home. 

Our top picks: best toys for speech delayed toddler

Toys are a great way to get your toddler involved, excited, and entertained. Having a calm, positive attitude will make speech easier… for both you and your toddler!

Try these top toys for your speech delayed child:

• Traditional, old-school toys: wood blocks, cars, legos, play dough
• Doll houses, dolls, tea sets, stuffed animals

What’s important is these toys will help your child get the ball rolling with making noises, talking, and speaking. When you join in with them, you’ll encourage language development!

How can I help my toddler with speech therapy at home? Try our top 5 games:

If you’re waiting to consult with your pediatrician or speech language pathologist about your child’s speech delay or pronunciation challenges, don’t be worried. 

There are a number of activities for you to participate in that may help your child’s speech now. Give these a try and see what works best for you and your child. Here’s our top 5 games for speech therapy at home:

• Goof off : Set the tone to relax and have fun. Get your child giggling with a goofy face, silly noise, or crazy expression. Emphasize a letter sound, maybe the /r/ sound with RAZZLE DAZZLE or /hip/ in HIPPOPOTAMUS! Use a goofy tone and get into it. Try something so crazy you can’t help but laugh! You’ll have them smiling, laughing, or happy and relaxed in no time. They’ll try to repeat you, and in turn, practice these sounds for their own speech. Use the same words over and over, and perhaps mix it up with different words using sounds your child may have difficulty pronouncing properly.
• Play the ping pong ball game : as they drink water or juice from a straw, your child’s mouth muscles will grow stronger. These are the very same muscles used for speech. Get a small ping pong ball and make it a race to see who can blow it through a goal post or down a hallway faster, using only a straw to propel the ball forward. This game can even be a competition between siblings!
• Read and repeat : find a book your child enjoys and read each page aloud to them. If they’re able, they should repeat each sentence or page after you’ve read it aloud. This repetition will be especially helpful to reinforce clear speech, including proper articulation and language comprehension over time. Before you know it, your child will be reading their favorite book to you. 
• Bubbles : Another fun game to try, blowing bubbles! Pick up a small bottle of bubbles and have your child blow away. They’ll “workout” their facial muscles used for speech, and have fun watching the bubbles fade away! You can even try this during bath time with a bottle of bubble bath. Repetition is the key to success!
• There’s an app for that : Type “speech therapy” into your App Store and you’ll find many options. Give Otsimo Speech Therapy a try. This app is designed with all kinds of games to entertain your toddler, keeping them engaged in speech activities. The product is ad-free and safe for kids, using a method known as augmentative and alternative communication.

What do speech therapists do for toddlers?

If you’ve never had a speech therapy session before, you may be wondering exactly what to expect.

How does it work? When it comes to sessions, we have a process to ensure a perfect fit for you, your toddler, and your speech language pathologist.

• Your experience begins with an introductory call to determine if we’re a good fit for your needs
• Techniques may include signing or typing, analyzing facial muscles to improve speech or articulation, altering tone, and other approaches to help your toddler improve communication skills
• Our sessions take place over Zoom: therapists interact with clients and engage in practice skills, games, repetitions, and other activities to overcome speech challenges
• Therapists will often provide homework for you and your toddler to practice together between sessions, truly integrating you into your child’s speech therapy
• Each client’s program is unique to their specific needs and goals, but most consist of 12-week modules, with two 30-minute sessions each week
• At the end of each module, our team will reach out to ensure you’re on track with your goals and progress

How do I find the right speech therapist for my toddler?

Since this person will be working with your toddler, it’s important to do your own research. Consider the following traits when selecting your child’s speech therapist.

• Personality: is this someone my child will enjoy being around? Are they someone I trust? Do they seem patient, understanding, and kind? Do they love what they do?
• Clarity: is the instructor clear? Do they explain their process? Do you and your child understand what they’re saying, what to expect from each session, and what kind of progress you’re making?
• Experience: Speech language pathologists receive extensive training to work with a variety of people experiencing complex communication disorders — you’ll want to ensure whoever you choose to work with has experience and passion for working with children.
• Schedule: is the therapist available on a schedule that works for you and your family?

When should a toddler start speech therapy?

It’s critical for your child to hit their 1 year old speech milestones . If you’re concerned about their progress, seek professional help.

If you believe your toddler has a speech delay, express your concerns with your pediatrician. They’ll recommend an assessment with a speech language pathologist, an expert when it comes to speech communication.

We encourage you to schedule your introductory call today for a no-pressure consultation on personalized virtual online speech therapy for your toddler.

You might also like

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Age-Appropriate Speech and Language Milestones

The ability to hear is essential for proper speech and language development. Hearing problems may be suspected in children who are not responding to sounds or who are not developing their language skills appropriately. The following are some age-related guidelines that may help to decide if your child is experiencing hearing problems.

It's important to remember that not every child is the same. Children reach milestones at different ages. Talk your child's healthcare provider if you are suspicious that your child is not developing speech and language skills correctly. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and other experts list the following age-appropriate speech and language milestones for babies and young children.

Milestones related to speech and language

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Age-Appropriate Speech and Hearing Milestones

Hearing Problems and Speech and Language Milestones

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The Therapy Place

Speech-Language Therapy For 2-Year-Olds

January 24, 2022

By: Blair Gorenberg MA, CCC-SLP

From recording videos to filling out a journal, parents are overcome with joy at the opportunity to document every milestone their child hits. But when children don’t follow the “normal” path of development, parents are left wondering when they will catch up to their peers. Children of all ages can benefit greatly from participation in speech-language therapy , and research has consistently shown that early intervention is key in managing a speech or language disorder.

The Difference Between Speech & Language

So what is the difference between speech and language? Speech is defined as the physical production of verbal output or the sound that is produced. For example, when discussing how a child produces the “R” sound, this refers to the child’s speech. Language is defined as the understanding and choice of words, gestures, and body language used to communicate. For example, when discussing how many words a child says or understands, this refers to the child’s language.

How Do Speech & Language Concerns Present In Young Children?

There are a variety of speech and language concerns that may arise during childhood. A child’s first words may be delayed, his/her vocabulary may be limited, or your child may not be producing any words at all. Maybe your child is talking but it is difficult to understand due to impaired production of speech. Perhaps your child isn’t demonstrating an understanding of basic directions or conversation. All of these issues are best addressed by a speech-language pathologist! 

What Does A Speech & Language Evaluation Look Like?

When a young child comes in for a speech and language evaluation, the speech-language pathologist completes both formal and informal assessments in addition to obtaining a full case history from the child’s parent or guardian. Formal testing is used to collect concrete data about the child in order to compare the child’s development to same-age peers. Informal testing allows the speech therapist to see firsthand how the child interacts, communicates, and plays both alone and with others. The case history includes a variety of questions regarding the child’s development, family, concerns, and goals.

What Happens In Speech Therapy For Two-Year-Olds?

For young children, speech therapy tends to be play-based with a focus on carrying over strategies into your home! The speech therapist carefully crafts a therapy environment full of toys and books that the child enjoys and helps facilitate speech and language stimulation while the child plays. Either during or at the conclusion of the session, the speech therapist reviews techniques with parents to help them facilitate the same stimulation in the child’s natural environment. 

Stimulating Speech & Language At Home

Here are some helpful tips to stimulate speech and language at home:

Get On The Child’s Level

Playing on the ground with your child removes the physical divide that exists between a tall adult and a small child.

Follow Your Child’s Lead

Watch your child and see what he/she wants to play with or talk about and follow rather than directing them to a toy or scenario he/she may not want to engage in. When children like what they are doing, they have more to say about it!

For every question, you ask your child, provide 3 comments before asking another question. Using comments when talking to your child allows for your child to respond with more freedom rather than feeling the need to provide a specific answer to a question.

Beneficial Silence

When adults are silent, it allows children to talk on their own time. Talk to your child while playing but remember to include a moment of silence from time to time to encourage your child to talk on their own!

If you have any concerns about your child’s speech or language, request an order for speech therapy from your child’s pediatrician and call The Therapy Place for a consultation and assessment!

“Early Intervention.” American Speech-Language-Hearing Association , American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, https://www.asha.org/public/speech/early-intervention/. 

Focustherapy. “Child Too Young for Speech Therapy? No Such Thing!” Focus Therapy , 22 Sept. 2018, https://focusflorida.com/speech-therapy/child-too-young-for-speech-therapy-no-such-thing/

Goorhuis-Brouwer, Siena M, and Wilma A Knijff. “Language Disorders in Young Children: When Is Speech Therapy Recommended?” International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology , vol. 67, no. 5, 2003, pp. 525–529., https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-5876(03)00014-4. “What Is Speech? What Is Language?” American Speech-Language-Hearing Association , American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/speech-and-language/.

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Dr. Mary Barbera

2 Year Old Not Talking? How to Support Speech Development

In this podcast episode, I, Dr. Mary Barbera, delve into the fascinating and intricate world of language development in two-year-olds. What milestones should a 2 year old be meeting? We will answer this and we go through what you can ddo today if you notice your 2 year old not talking. There are things you can do to support 2 year olds with speech delays or autism, so come join us and get started turning things around for the 2 year old not talking in your life.

YOU’LL LEARN

• Two-year olds not talking yet
• CDC Milestones for 2 year olds
• Assessing language skills: Babbling, word approximations, receptive abilities
• Language milestones: Receptive and expressive, distinguishing between receptive language and imitation skills
• Steps to take to support a speech delay

CDC Act Early Milestones

It is crucial to have a thorough understanding of the milestones that children in this age group should be reaching. To help you on this journey, I highly recommend utilizing the CDC Act Early website , which provides reliable information on developmental expectations. It is worth noting that there have been recent revisions to the CDC milestones, making the requirements for language development slightly less stringent.

When evaluating a child’s language skills, it is important to look beyond their expressive language and consider their babbling, word approximations, and receptive abilities. It is also essential to take into account the child’s exact age and any potential preemie status when assessing their language development.

2 Year Old Speech Milestones

In this episode of the podcast, I focus on the impact of prematurity on developmental delays and differences in children. We place a strong emphasis on the speech milestones for two-year-olds, both receptively and expressively. Receptive language milestones include actions such as pointing to objects in a book, following directions, and identifying body parts. However, when looking at 2-year-old speech milestones, it is crucial to distinguish between receptive language and imitation skills. I share a personal experience of unintentionally over-scoring my child’s abilities by using a specific song and a specific order of body parts.

When it comes to expressive language, we expect two-word combinations, but it is important to note that phrases like “I want” should not be counted as two-word utterances. The podcast also highlights the importance of evaluating not only language milestones but also social and emotional milestones. This includes recognizing others’ emotions and observing reactions in new situations.

Overall, the podcast strongly emphasizes the importance of seeking an evaluation for speech delays and considering other non-language-related skills as well. It is crucial to take a comprehensive approach to assess a child’s overall development, including their language, cognitive, and physical abilities. By examining a range of milestones, we can gain a better understanding of a child’s development.

 Social Emotional Milestones and Beyond

In this episode, we go beyond just language and explore the assessment of various milestones to effectively gauge children’s development. While speech and language delays may not necessarily indicate autism, it is important for children to exhibit referencing behaviors, such as looking at familiar caregivers and noticing emotions. The use of gestures, such as pointing and nodding, is also highlighted as significant cognitive and communication milestones.

Additionally, we underscore the significance of physical development, from walking and running to self-feeding skills, in evaluating a child’s overall progress. By considering a range of milestones, including language, cognitive, and physical abilities, we can achieve a more comprehensive understanding of a child’s development.

We also discuss the challenges that children with autism or speech delays often face that the milestones don’t necessarily touch on like problem behaviors and tantrums. As a registered nurse and behavior analyst, I emphasize the importance of early intervention to improve communication skills and reduce problem behaviors. It is vital to assess a child’s skills and needs, particularly in areas such as self-care and daily activities.

Speech Therapy 2 Year Olds

To address these challenges, we present a way to help 2-year-olds with speech therapy, the four-part Turn Autism Around Approach . This approach is aimed at helping parents navigate and support their child’s development effectively. We emphasize the importance of addressing difficulty falling asleep, which may require medication. I offer a no-cost ten-minute assessment  covering self-care, daily activities, language and learning skills, and problem behaviors. It is important to note that problem behaviors do not necessarily indicate autism, and there are strategies to reduce or eliminate them.

Our podcast provides a child-friendly and proven approach, as well as a comprehensive online course and community, to guide parents regardless of an autism diagnosis. I share the Barbera method, which incorporates strategies applicable to all children, with or without delays or disabilities, including picky eating, potty training, and language development.

I encourage all interested individuals to attend a free workshop available if they are noticing any missed milestones that I discuss in this episode so that you can get started helping your child or client today! 

• Workshops  – Learn more about our online courses and resources with a free workshop
• Free autism digital assessment
• Speech Delay Vs. Autism
•  Speech Therapy Toys
• Katty Speech Delay Success Story

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11 Toddler Activities to Encourage Speech

Are you looking for easy and fun ways to help encourage your toddler's speech development?

If so, you come to the right place. I'm going to go over some speech development facts and give you some fun and interactive ways you can help your child's language development.

How to encourage speech development

A toddler's speech development is one of the most exciting and worrying things about parenting.

In the time of social media, it's easy to fall into the trap of comparing your toddler's speech development with others.

You may be wondering if there are any toddler activities to encourage speech.

Research shows that young children need to hear about 21,000 words per day for optimal language development.

While that number may have taken your breath away momentarily, I assure you it's not difficult to achieve.

Luckily, there are many things you can do with your toddler to encourage speech, and they can all be pretty fun!

Speech development in toddlers

You can worry yourself sick reading through websites about how many words your child should be saying at certain ages.

I've read that an 18-month-old should be saying at least 20 words, but then I read the next article down and I'm told a child should be saying at least 6 words at 18 months.

And then , to top the confusion off, women in parenting Facebook groups are telling me they've been told an 18-month-old should be saying more than 50 words!

Here's the most reasonable official word on what a toddler's speech should entail, by age:

By 18 Months- Says several single words. (They don't need to be clearly spoken.)

By 2 Years: Says sentences containing 2-4 words.

By 3 Years: Can carry on short conversations using 2-3 sentences and can be understood by most adults.

Along with these speech development guidelines, it's important to note that receptive language (a child's ability to understand) is of equal, if not primary, importance in younger toddlers!

So, don't gauge your child's language development only on what they are able to say.

Now, let's get to the fun part! The activities! I'll be providing examples of what you can say during the activity to encourage your child's speech!

Toddler activities to encourage speech

1. Herb Grinding- I am a big hot tea drinker and my kids enjoy the scents and flavors of the herbs brewing, along with trying new teas. (Decaffeinated, of course.)

This is one of my personal favorite activities to encourage toddler speech. If there is something you just love , involve your child.

So, grinding herbs with a mortar and pe stle is a super fun activity for us. And there is so much vocabulary that goes along with the activity!

“Feel the chamomile buds. They are dry and break easily. They should be easy to crush!”

“This is a mortar and pestle. People use it for all sorts of things! Painters use it to prepare paints, people crush medicine with it, and people use it for cooking. Let me show you how to use it. After we are finished crushing the chamomile, we can make some hot tea and put some honey and milk in it!”

2. Reading-  This is crucial – and fun! Short, rhyming, and easy-to-follow stories are the best for a toddler's developing speech.

There is no need to purchase any of the “First 100” series books and drill your child on those words.

Simply read and let the story flow. If it's a rhyme, don't stop to talk about the story or the pictures for the first several reads through the book.

Let your child experience the rhythm of the syllables and the song of the rhyme.

This will enhance the experience for them, as well as encourage their love of reading in the future!

Even audiobooks have the benefit of enriching a child's vocabulary!

Sensory bins to help speech development

3. Sensory bins – While sensory bins are not Montessori, they are useful for a child's development.

On top of tactile stimulation and as an adjunct tool for learning, they provide a fun opportunity for speech development.

Take this colored rice sensory bin, for example. We've made the brown rice the land and the blue rice the water.

My 2-year-old enjoyed coloring the rice, helping to plan the activity, and placing the animals in their respective habitats.

“Is water brown or blue? Hmm…I think it's blue. Let's put the brown land over to the left side of the bin and the blue water to the right of the land. Let's get your animals and try to figure out which ones live in the water and which ones live on land!”

So much language goes along with working with sensory bins. And you are only limited by your own imagination, as far as what materials to use!

4. Nature Walks- Take a walk around the yard, neighborhood, or local park. Stop often to observe the things around you.

Encourage your child to pick things up and offer a description of the item.

“Oh, look at that rock you found. Feel it. It's rough and has a jagged edge on one side. It looks different than the rock that I found. Mine is smooth. Do you want to feel it?”.

There is a lot of language to be shared when out and about in nature.

Encourage toddler speech through play

5. Blocks-  This activity is so simple, yet so vital for just about every aspect of a child's development. Blocks. That's right, just plain old wooden blocks .

All you need to do is sit on the floor, facing your child, and build. Talk about what you're building and observe and admire what your toddler is building.

“I'm building a house. You see, the garage is right here and over here is the front door. I've turned a triangle-shaped block upside down to make a pointy roof. Show me what you are building!”

“Let's see how high we can stack these blocks! We can make a tower! Oh, wow, every time we add a block, our tower gets taller. If we keep building, we will have the tallest tower we have ever built!”

6- Miniature objects- Miniature objects are used for different things in Montessori. To start with, they can be used to help encourage speech development in Toddlers.

Language is best learned in conjunction with concrete, tangible examples. So, miniature objects provide this level of learning for toddlers.

Simply name the object and talk a bit about its use. Ask open-ended questions, even if your child can't answer.

Miniature objects are also great for sound games.

7- Silly Sounds- Show your child that it is fun to experiment and be silly with language by making silly sounds with them. Change the words to some common nursery songs and sing about what you are doing.

Instead of singing the correct words to “ Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star “, sing something like, “ Beep beep, bop bop, bip bip, boat! ” Just be silly!

Your child needs to see you feel free to experiment and be silly. This will help them feel free to do the same.

They will have fun, while getting practice and becoming more comfortable with trying new sounds. Activities to encourage speech can be silly and fun!

It should never feel like a lesson,

Speech development and music

8- Finger Plays- Finger Plays are songs involving the movement of the hands and fingers. This is a really fun way to encourage toddler speech!

One Finger Play all my children have enjoyed is this:

Open shut them ( Open and close your hands in rhythm ) Open shut them Give a little clap, clap, clap (Clap in rhythm) Open shut them (Open and close your hands in rhythm) Open shut them Lay them on your lap, lap, lap (Pat your hands on your lap in rhythm) Creep them creep them (Move your hands in a spider motion up your abdomen, Creep them creep them toward your chin) Right up to your chin, chin, chin Open wide your little mouth (Tap your index fingers on the sides of your mouth, But do not let them in close your mouth, and shake your head and wag your finger “no”) Shake them shake them (Shake your hands vigorously) Shake them shake them Shake them Just like this, this, this Roll them roll them (Ball your fists and roll your arms) Roll them roll them Roll And blow a little kiss (Blow a kiss to your child) Muah!

Speech development and food

9- Grocery Shopping- Turn an adult chore into a fun activity by spending some extra time in the fresh section of the store.

The descriptive language that fresh food provides is amazing! There is so much to talk about at the grocery store!

Every fruit and vegetable has a different size, color, texture, scent, and flavor. Grocery shopping is probably one of the best activities to encourage healthy eating and toddler speech!

“We need some apples to snack on. Let's pick out 3 juicy red apples. 1, 2, an 3. Can you help put them in our bag? You did it! Now we've got 3 delicious red apples to snack on when we get home! Now, let's go see what else we can find!”

10- Cooking-  There's no way around it. We have to cook.

So, instead of diverting your toddler's attention elsewhere so you can prepare dinner, invite them to help!

This is one of the most helpful ways to encourage toddler speech.

It may take longer ( and more cleaning is sure to result ), but the opportunity to help a toddler along with their speech development is missed when we exclude our children from daily activities, such as cooking.

“Smell this basil. I like the way it smells, don't you? Now, try a bite of this tomato. Mmm! It's so juicy, isn't it? Would you like to help me stir? Tomatoes and basil are going to be part of our dinner tonight! Thank you so much for helping!”

Speech development and picture books

11- Picture Books- Picture books are great activities to encourage toddler speech. They allow for more conversation, imagination, and they help develop critical thinking skills.

But for the purpose of this article, let's focus on the speech development these books promote.

One of the great benefits of wordless books is the absence of words prompts conversation about the possible actions, emotions , and intentions of the characters on the page.

There is no story to read, so you and your child make up the story yourselves!

“That boy is walking a dog on a leash. I wonder where he is going. Let's see…there's a post office a few buildings away. Maybe he is going to pick up a package. I wonder who sent the package. Do you have any ideas? Maybe his grandmother sent it.”

These fun activities are sure to help get your toddler talking!

Turn off the TV to encourage toddler speech

Doing simple things like speaking clearly and limiting screen time are also important. A link between excessive screen-time and verbal delays has been shown.

Time spent in front of the TV or iPad is time lost gaining meaningful speech; speech that relates to your child's life.

Join Limited Screen-time Families on Facebook for more tips on screen-free activities. It's one of the best resources out there.

My personal experience with my children's speech development

As a mother of three completely different kids, I can promise you that personality plays a huge role in a child's speech development.

The tears I shed worrying about my first child's language development…It turns out, she is a quiet child and a bit of a perfectionist.

I couldn't help but worry when I would watch videos of all my friends' toddlers talking and singing when my daughter had a handful of barely discernable words and a whole lot of da-da-da. She was a “late” babbler, too.

Then, like a light switch went off, she started speaking full sentences.

Now, at 5, she has a vocabulary as large as any other kid her age. My 3-year-old had 100+ words at 18 months.

He is more outgoing and willing to try to say words, even when he's unsure he's got the pronunciation just right.

He appreciates being corrected and will attempt a word as many times as necessary until he's got it just right.

Every child's speech development is different.

Basically, every child is different. So, try not to stress yourself ( or your child) out about their speech development. Child development is not a competitive sport .

I can safely assume that you're reading this article because you have concerns about your child's speech development.

Take a deep breath, dry your tears, and have fun with these activities!

The MOST important thing, however, is that you listen. Your child may be saying more than you think!

And there is NO NEED to talk incessantly to your child, as many social media moms will claim!

Letting them develop confidence and concentration through independent play is absolutely vital.

So, let them play,  then join them.

Let them explore, then join them.

There are so many activities to encourage toddler speech and their all fun!

Cheers and don't forget to subscribe!

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Wednesday 25th of August 2021

I NEEDED to read this. Thank you so much. Trust me... you are so right. I worry about my toddler's speech every single day. i am tired of reading articles. I am going to take your advice. Thank you Thank you Thank you.

Bit of crackling

Wednesday 30th of December 2020

If transitions are a problem for your child, it is important to figure out what about the transition is difficult. Often kids don’t like stopping an activity that they are enjoying (like playing on the computer) in order to do something less fun, like getting ready to leave the house. While no one enjoys stopping fun things, some kids struggle with it more than others. That can be a sign that they are still developing emotional self-regulation skills, but it is just one possible cause. Other children struggle to cope with unanticipated changes in schedule, or moving on from something that they feel like they haven’t finished.

Thursday 21st of May 2020

thanks for this article! our little guy has pretty much no words at 15mo but understands what we are asking him to do and follows directions well. he has no screen time and we read a ton of books. the ped is already talking about early intervention speech therapy--ugh! this was such a reassuring article. thanks :)