When a child grows every parent waits eagerly for them to speak their first word. But every child has a timeline. First, they start with babbling and slowly start picking up words. According to child psychologists, the most effective way to enhance the speaking ability of children is to talk to your baby. When the child is still an infant ( 0-1 year), it is important to observe how they are responding to the sounds around them. In the process, if you suspect any hearing issues consult a therapist near you. The experts have provided age-appropriate guidelines. The guidelines consist of milestones for Language Development in Toddlers and infants. However, as a parent, you should always remember that every child is different. They may achieve some milestones at different times.
Why is It Important to Track Language Development in Toddlers?
Language development in Children plays a crucial role in their overall growth. Language not only develops communication but also lets the child express their emotion. This helps them to build relationships. As toddlers start their educational journey, language skills help them to read and understand. There is much research which has highlighted the relationship between literacy and language development. Caregivers and schools should observe children and check if there are any Warning Signs if Speech Therapy is Needed. There are many centers that Support Language Development in Children. They have professionally trained speech therapists who use a scientific approach to help children. Due to advancements in technology now, many centers provide Speech therapy for kids online .
Language Development in Toddlers According To Age
You will notice that children undergo a “Word Spurt”, which means there will be a sudden increase in their spoken vocabulary. This usually occurs when the child is 18 months old. At this stage, they map the names of the objects to their brain. They internalize new words when they hear them again and again. As dual language learners, toddlers adjust their brains to process multiple languages. Parents and teachers play a crucial role in Enhance Language Development in Toddlers. They should provide nurturing environments while avoiding baby talk and speaking clearly.
Here are some important milestones for speech at different ages.
Below the Age of 1 Year
Before the first birthday of your child, they start making some noises. They make some sounds when someone talks to them. They usually cry, giggle, or laugh when they want to express their pleasure or displeasure. The babbling sound when they wake up or when they are happy makes them go “ba-ba-ba”. You can find them saying some repaired words like “ma-ma-ma” or “da-da-da”. They may say their first word before 1. As a parent, you can talk and sing songs to them to Boost Your Baby’s Language Development.
From Age 1 to 2
At this age, when someone asks them simple questions, they can answer them nonverbally. Now, as they are exposed to so many people and objects. They label them with some words, which may or may not be clear. When they hear some new word they try to imitate it. And make some sounds which means they are trying to learn those words. They have a vocabulary of almost 50 words. However, the pronunciation of the words can be unclear. Often they make the sound of a cow – “moo”, cat- “meow” etc. Also, they can use 2-word phrases. If you feel your child has not achieved this milestone then type “Speech therapy for kids near me” in your search engine, to get the best Speech therapist nearest to your location.
From Age 2 to 3
Now your child is old enough to use words like “big”, “happy”, “yes” etc. They understand their emotions and express if they are happy or sad. Their speech is still not accurate and they are leaving off ending sounds. If they have joined Kindergarten then it is seen that some children do not speak initially. But when they become comfortable they start speaking and picking up new things.
Between Age 3-4 and Above
Your child has now started understanding the world better and can make more difficult sounds. When asked, they can explain the objects around them. Now, you can have fun with them singing their favourite rhyme. At the age of 4 strangers can also understand their language. They can demand things and have the curiosity to ask questions which is a crucial part of Language Development in Toddlers. Above the age of 5, they can easily engage in conversation. Also, the sentence they are now speaking is up to 8 words.
Let’s learn about some activities you can do with your child to enhance their language skills.
Activities to Develop Language Skills in Toddlers
There are many activities that you can perform with a child. This will help them to develop language skills and have fun at the same time. A very easy activity is playing the “Telephone game”. You can pretend to talk to them on the phone. While talking children usually imitate others. This helps in enhancing language skills. More such Activities to Encourage Speech Development are singing Rhymes together, labelling objects, Puppet shows, reading to them, etc. When you meet them after school or after your work day, make sure to ask them about their day. Ask about their friends, what did they learn today, and about their teachers. You can also do some Physical Activities that help kids Brain Development and Growth.
Conclusion:
For Language Development in Toddlers engage them in games and activities. You can sing them songs and encourage them to speak. Also, maintain a language-rich environment by talking to them throughout the day and engaging in conversation in daily routine. The exposure to screen time is increased but It is best to limit screen time as it hinders language development. You can also visit Therakids Noida, to take a consultation, if you are not feeling confident about the language development of your child.
