When your toddler is around 18 months old, you might start noticing them using more words and putting some of these words together to make short sentences.
At this stage, you might be wondering what you can do as a parent to help your child's language continue to grow.
What's the best way to respond to them when they put two words together? Should you respond in full sentences? Or keep your language simple at their level?
We asked the experts to explain their top tip for helping toddlers develop their language. Watch the video below to find out what they said.
Toddlers are saying more words and some are beginning to put words together to make short sentences.
They need you to keep giving them those tools for talking to help expand their language.
Listen to their words or gestures they use to communicate with you and expand on what they talk about.
If they say a word, add to it and turn it into a short sentence.
And ask those simple 'what, where and why' questions too.
Remember, by expanding their words, you're helping them start to build sentences, so keep doing it!
What is expansion in language learning?
Expansion is a really easy tool to help develop your child's language skills.
When your child says a word or phrase, listen carefully and expand on what they talk about.
If they say a word, try to add to it and turn it into a short sentence. Repeat what they said with one extra detail or a more complete structure.
- If you child says, 鈥凄辞驳!鈥 You can say, 鈥淵es, big dog!鈥
- If your child says, 鈥淐oo moo鈥 You can say, 鈥淐ow goes moo!鈥
This is a great technique to use when your toddler is really engaged, perhaps during an activity together or at lunchtime. You don't need to use this tool all the time when you're talking to your toddler.
It's important for your child to hear you speak in your every day voice too.
Top tips for expanding toddler's language
When you鈥檙e using the expansion technique, try and keep in mind the language level that your child is at:
- If your child isn't vocalising words yet, try and emphasise one word at a time in your daily routine: 鈥淢ilk鈥, 鈥淓at鈥, 鈥淐lothes鈥
- If they鈥檙e confident saying one word at a time, you can repeat a 2-word phrase back to them: 鈥淓ating lunch鈥, 鈥淢ore milk鈥, 鈥淕reen clothes鈥
- If they're talking in simple phrases, you can start narrating in fuller sentences: "That's a blue car", "We're hanging up the washing"
Your child is listening and learning all the time. When you repeat and expand their language at the right level, their brain is working out how different words connect and link together.
Don't expect your child to repeat you, they won't be at this stage straight away. But their brain is always making new connections, and this is a great way to help them pick up the new skill.
Activities to help expand your toddler's language
The activities below are the perfect opportunity to try out language expansion with your toddler. They're fun and easy to do, and lots of them can become a part of your everyday routine:
- Doing the laundry together is great opportunity to talk about different types of clothes.
- Try setting up a small shop in your living room or kitchen and ask your toddler to find you items.
- Everyday tasks like cooking can be a great chance to talk to your baby about different things.
- Boost your child鈥檚 chat by taking time to name things while you鈥檙e out and about.
