Help your child to talk
Learning to talk is exciting. It starts right after birth. It should be fun for
your child, family and friends. But it is not necessarily easy. The process of talking
involves attending, listening, thinking, understanding, wanting and needing to speak.
It also involves taking turns, as well as being able to coordinate all the right
muscles for speech.
Children learn to talk at different ages. Some children utter their first intelligible
word before they are one year old, while others may not speak until they are over
2. Generally, however, most children start to talk by 18 months.
Children need to be encouraged to talk in the same way as they are encouraged to
walk. And remember, children can understand what is being said long before they
can use the words themselves.
12 Tips to Talking
The following are some ways in which you can help your child learn to talk. Be patient.
The process is gradual and may seem slow. Words may be unclear and your child may
stumble or hesitate.
- Talk to your child when you are playing together.
- Have fun with nursery rhymes and songs, especially those with actions.
- Encourage your child to listen to different sounds (e.g. animals, aeroplanes,
the doorbell).
- Gain your child’s attention when you talk to him. Encourage him to look at you
or at the object that you are talking about.
- Encourage your child to communicate in other ways, not just through words. Use
gestures and pictures.
- Give your child choices (e.g. “Do you want an orange or a banana?”).
- Talk about things as they happen (e.g. when changing him, watching television,
unpacking the shopping).
- Listen carefully and give your child time to finish whatever he is saying. Take
turns to speak.
- Give your child opportunities to talk. Encourage your child. Say: “Good talking”
or “Good listening”.
- Help your child to use more words by adding onto what he is saying. For example:
o Child: “Ball.” o Adult: “Yes, throw the ball. Good! It’s a big ball.”
- If your child says something incorrectly, say it back the correct way. However,
do not force your child to repeat the word(s). For example: o Child: “Pi…” o Adult:
“Yes, fish.”
- Dedicate a special time with your child each day to play with toys and read picture
books together.
Remember…
- Don’t expect too much too soon.
- Don’t worry if he is not at exactly the same stage as your friend’s child. Talking
takes time – don’t hurry him.
This article is provided by KK Hospital - Singapore’s leading Women and Children’s
Hospital. Please visit www.kkh.com.sg for more information
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