Early Language Development

By 18 months most children will have around 50 words that they say and by two years old there should a dramatic increase to several hundred words.  To help stimulate early vocabulary development here are some daily activities that help.

• READ!  Read to your child.  Point to pictures on the pages and label pictures.  Allow your child to label pictures or point to pictures to have you label.  Don't get hung up on reading everything on every page.  Follow your child's cues.  Their attention span is short. 
• WAIT! for your child to request things.  It is easy for adults to anticipate what a child will want or need and provide it.  Wait.  Wait for them to request either with gestures, sounds, or words.  When they gesture or use sounds rather than words (grunts, whining, etc) WAIT again.  See if they will use words to request.  Prompt them to use words.  Example:  When you sit down to lunch don't give them a drink.  When they reach for the milk, wait.  If they don't vocalize after 5-10 seconds say some thing like, "What do you want?"  If they don't answer after you WAIT, supply the answer for them by modeling what you want them to say.  "You want milk." 
• REWARD! when they attempt to communicate.  I don't mean give them money or a treat.  Always acknowledge that they said something or tried to communicate in some way.  Respond quickly and with happiness. Example 1: "You asked me for the ball."  Hand them the ball.  Example 2:  "Thank you for asking but you cannot have a cookie right now."  Give them a hug. 
• TALK! Talk all the time!  Talk about what you are doing.  Talk about what they are doing.  Talk about what you see.  Talk about what you want.  Talk about what you are planning to do.  Talk, talk, talk!  The more you talk the more models they will have.  Try to use simple, short phrases.  Speak slowly. 
• ENJOY!  Enjoy the time you have with your child.  Remember that they want to be like you.  Help them to communicate like you do.