The quiet child
Most children start talking around the age of 1 year. However, some are a little late. The most important thing before the age of 2 is that the child wants to communicate and understands the instructions and the questions.
Why doesn't he talk much?
It's common for a 1-2-year-old toddler not to talk much, regardless of whether they spoke early or not. This is entirely normal, as he only develops his language.
Between 2 and 3 years old, a child makes small sentences. He, therefore, has more means to express himself. Often this causes him to talk more. Some children speak more minor than others, in the same way, that some adults speak little and others talk constantly.
When a toddler speaks little, the most important thing is to ensure that his language development is going well, regardless of his age. If he says little because it is in his personality, he should express his needs. On the other hand, if the child speaks little because of language difficulties, he could feel frustrated for not saying what he wants.
Difficulties in being understood
Try not to show frustration when you don't understand what your toddler tells you. The mere fact that he tries to speak is positive. It would be a stain to prevent him from representing himself.
Some children come to talk less because they don't feel competent to do so. So don't correct your toddler when he makes mistakes. Just give him the model of what he could have said, emphasizing forgotten or mispronounced words, without asking him to repeat.
If you didn't understand what your child said at all, suggest sentences he could have said. Please pay attention to what your toddler says rather than how he says it.
When to consult?
If you are worried that your child speaks little and you think it is because of language difficulty, talk to your doctor or contact the Ordre des orthophonistes et des audiologists du Québec. Speech therapy services are offered, particularly to toddlers in CLSCs and private practice.
How to encourage him to talk more?
When your child is young, try to be expressive, use lots of gestures, and talk in a varied tone of voice. He will learn the language and become more interested in it that way.
Talk to your child often when you are with him to encourage him to express himself. However, take plenty of pauses when talking to him to give him time to react or express himself if he feels like it. So avoid talking nonstop.
Stand at your child's level as often as possible to talk to him. He'll be more likely to listen to you that way, and it'll be easier for you to have a conversation together.
Don't anticipate your child's needs. Let him ask you for an item or tell you he still wants to eat or play, even if he does it with gestures.
When your child expresses himself through sounds, words, or phrases, smile at him and tell him you love him when he talks to you. You can also congratulate him.
Let him propose games and decide how they will be played. He will express himself more easily if he has no constraints and is interested.
Talk about what you do and a lot about what he does because that is likely to interest him the most.
Please pay close attention when your child talks to find out what he wants to talk about with you. Follow their interests!
To find topics of conversation, take inspiration from his favorite subjects (e.g., animals, means of transport, cartoon characters, etc.). Like you, your toddler is more likely to talk when the topic interests him.
Invite your kid questionings that will call him speaking, like "who? and "what does he or she do?" when he is smaller, and "why?" and "what's going on?" when he is older. These types of questions encourage him to talk more, unlike questions to which he has to answer only "yes" or "no."
Sing bits of nursery rhymes or songs, or tell him the beginning of a story he knows well. Then give him time to complete. It's a wonderful way to boost your kid to speak.
Look at books often with your child. When reading, encourage him to comment on the pictures and the story by asking him questions or just commenting on yourself. You can again request him what he thinks will occur in the next runners.
Also Read: The Soft Roots
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