Language Development Activities for 12 to 24 Months

As a caregiver, few sights are more exiting than watching a toddler or young child learn language. Most children progress from babbling to four- or five-word sentences in the space of a year or two. Children learn language in the context of their daily lives, but you can take several steps to promote your child̵7;s language development.

  1. Talk to Your Child

    • The most important action you can take for language development is also one of the simplest: Talk to your child. Label objects for him, tell him what you are doing or where he is going. When he points at food or another object that he wants say, ̶0;You want the banana." This helps him learn that he can express his desires orally. At first, this will feel awkward and silly because your child will not be talking back. When he does babble at you, talk back to him so you can have a type of conversation. This helps teach him that words have meaning.

    Read to Your Child

    • Reading to your child is another way to promote language development. At this age, his attention span is likely to be short. Reading a book can consist of him looking at a page or two and then running off in another direction. Choose sturdy books with realistic photos of what he is interested in, such as animals or trucks. Consider making him a small photo album full of pictures of family and friends. Talk about pictures if he points to or pats them, and have him help turn pages. Your child might also enjoy hearing you read aloud while he plays nearby.

    Prompt Your Child to Communicate

    • Giving your child opportunities to communicate will encourage him to use the language that he does have. If he puts his arms out for you to pick him up, say ̶0;you want up, say ̵6;up.̵7; ̶1; If he says "up," ̶0;uh̶1; or makes a sound, smile and pick him up. When he points to something he wants, try to get him to say the first word, or even a meaningful sound for what he wants -- ̶0;ba̶1; for banana or ̶0;oo̶1; for cookie, for example. This encourages your child to experiment with language and helps him to not be afraid of making mistakes while he is learning.

    When to Seek Help

    • Typical language development for toddlers comes in a range. Some children start talking later than usual and develop quickly. Other children struggle more and can benefit from the advice of a speech therapist or other specialist. If your child is not babbling by 12 months or does not have any recognizable words by 16 months, discuss this with your pediatrician.

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