Toddlers are making their journey into the verbal world. At some point in their development, they turn into continuous chatterboxes. Their chatter is sometimes very hard to understand. But it is the beginning of learning how to communicate with their voice, and the time when their vocabulary starts expanding. You can help them with this new milestone in their development.
If you have any question about whether your toddler is on par for speech development, then consult your pediatrician. Speech involves several different processes including their hearing. Your toddler may need to have a physical evaluation along with other testing for learning disabilities. It is important to catch this early so that problems can be addressed.
You can help your toddler with their speech by encouraging them to verbalize their requests. As they practice their requests, they will gain proficiency in saying them. The practice of these words will make them more recognizable to individuals who aren’t quite as familiar with your toddler’s language as you are.
Help them expand their vocabulary by naming objects and then having them repeat the names. Make sure that you slow down your speech and emphasis all of the syllables in a word. This will help with their enunciation on syllables they may have trouble with. Be patient if they don’t get it the first time. Like everything else, it takes a lot of practice to get the words right.
Personality plays a role in who your toddler will speak to. Some toddlers will talk to everybody. Some will not talk at all. If your child is particularly shy, they won’t communicate their needs to their teachers. It is important to encourage them to talk, but don’t force the issue. Be patient and give them the time they need to warm up to teachers. Ask their teachers to keep a special eye out for your shy toddlers because they don’t speak up when they need to.
Your toddler will eventually turn into a chatterbox. This is normal for that age. While their language may only be recognizable to you, they are beginning the journey of spoken communication. With time and practice, they will become understandable. But if you think your toddler is behind on their speech or slow to pick up on speaking, then you should get a medical evaluation. Catching these issues early will give them the best chance for successful communication later on in life.