How to Help Your Child Learn to Talk
How well a child can speak and understand spoken language often reflects his overall well-being, advises Dr. Anil Pradhan, a pediatrician in Bradford, Pennsylvania. Most children have the ability to learn to talk simply by listening to people talk around them. But you can help your child learn to talk using various techniques and activities.
Things You'll Need
- Age-appropriate books
- Flash cards
Instructions
Language Development
Talk to your child as much as possible. You increase your child's vocabulary and ability to talk each time you talk to him, advises Laurissa Lock, a family development specialist for Parents As Teachers in Smethport, Pennsylvania. Simple activities can include reading books to your child, describing things your child interacts with or does, repeating what you think your child said using clear language, asking questions that cannot be answered with a "yes" or "no," using directional terms (under, above, over, in, out), reciting rhymes or singing songs. Encourage your child to talk. Even before your child begins saying his first words, you should ask questions and pause for a second, as though he was going to answer you, advises Lock. You may also want to use flash cards to encourage language development Support and encourage your child each time she tries to talk by imitating her sounds, responding to her and giving her your attention, advises Dr. Pradhan. Reinforce your child's language development by talking to her at her level. Lock advises using one- to two-word phrases ("drink milk") for children just beginning to talk, using simple sentences ("Get your shoe") for children beginning to put sentences together, and using complex sentences (those including words like because and although) for older children who can understand these concepts. Challenge your child. Do not simply respond to nonverbal communication, advises Lock. If your child wants to be picked up and has begun to speak, encourage her to say the word "up" before actually picking her up. Expand your child's language. If your child says "shoe", help him describe the shoe by stating something like "Yes, that's mommy's shoe," advises Lock. Overall Health
Take your child to all his pediatric appointments for health checks, follow-ups and screenings. Dr. Pradhan advises that a child's overall health can impact his speech development. Feed your child a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. A healthy diet can improve your child's attention span and promote her learning, as well as increase her awareness and control of the mouth muscles required for articulation, advises Dr. Pradhan. Give your child plenty of time for sleep. Dr. Pradhan recommends that children between the ages of 1 and 6 years get between 10 and 14 hours of sleep each day, including naps and overnight sleep. Without adequate sleep, your child may be grumpy, have a poor attention span and be less likely to want to learn. Previous:Attachment Anxiety
