How to Help Your Late-Talking Child
Not all infants learn to speak at the same time. Some of them are capable of saying more words clearly than others. However, at 12 months, you should expect your child to say a few intelligible single words. At 16 months, more words get added to the vocabulary. Therefore, not seeing these changes might mean something wrong. Before you panic, there are ways to help your child catch up.
Keep talking to your child
Children need to get exposed to as many words as possible. Talk to them as often as you can so they get used to it. They also feel more comfortable with the sounds produced when people talk. While most experts discourage baby talks, try to simplify your words. It depends on your child’s age. Use a few words at a time instead of long sentences.
Enunciate your words
Infants also like imitating adults. It’s easier to teach how to speak if you exaggerate the pronunciation and talk using a higher pitch than usual. Allow your child to follow what you say through repetition exercises. It might be awkward at first, but it helps in word recall.
Ask for help from experts
If you already tried different strategies, and nothing seems to work, consider working with experts. Find experts on speech therapy for children on Parentgood.app. These experts have years of experience in dealing with late-talking children. They also have different tricks up their sleeves to encourage your child to speak clearly. But, again, not all children are the same. The speech therapist will craft a plan based on your child’s progress.
Try singing simple songs
Babies also like to hear rhythms. They enjoy the process and also learn a few words. Keep singing lovely melodies until they catch some words. It’s also the reason why nursery rhymes are popular in schools.
Talk while you do some chores
Instead of doing the chores quietly, try to speak. Explain what you’re doing and name each item that you touch. It helps in recalling the words.
Allow your child to play with other children
Playing with other children can also help improve their ability to speak. Your child will realize that children their age already know some words. They might also try to learn harder to be at par with other children. It doesn’t mean that you will put pressure or compare with others. Allow your child to learn while playing. It should be in a more comfortable and relaxing environment.
Don’t worry
It’s understandable if you’re worried since other children are already learning more words than your child. However, these strategies can somehow fix the problem. Try to be there until your child improves. The goal is to promote independence since you won’t be around forever.
Don’t forget to praise your child for every milestone achieved. It’s worth celebrating. If there are other developmental delays, try to pay attention to them too. There might be times when you feel frustrated, but you can’t let your child sense it. Otherwise, it can be counterproductive.