14 Tips for Nurturing Young Children’s Communication & Language Skills

December 9, 2021

In the critical first few years of a child’s life, adults help lay a foundation for communication and language skills through games and activities that encourage talk and build on a child’s early utterances. Today’s post brings you 14 simple things that adults can do with very young children to nurture their early communication and learn new language skills.

1. Encourage choice-making. Offering choices between items can boost a child’s motivation to communicate. Hold up bath toys and ask the child: “Do you want the duck or the boat?”

2. Reinforce word approximations. Encourage and model the correct pronunciation when children approximate a word: for example, saying “Yes! Car!” when they say “da” for “car.”

3. Label items during errands. Pointing at favorite foods in the grocery store and naming the items provides a simple model that the child can imitate when ready.

4. Build on their words. Add words to what a child says to help expand their vocabulary and sentence structure.

5. Use action words. Describe your actions using various verbs throughout the day to enrich the child’s vocabulary.

6. Make flash cards to encourage naming. Create cards with pictures of simple household objects and involve the child in the naming process.

7. Use rhymes and songs to reinforce language. Recite or sing familiar rhymes and songs and encourage the child to recall or repeat them.

8. Write and read notes to your child. Put little notes around the house for the child to read that promote the fun of reading.

9. Tune in to and talk about sounds. Listen for various sounds around your home and encourage the child to describe what they hear.

10. Play naming games. While traveling, ask the child to help look for things in specific categories and name them together.

11. Ask questions. Engaging a child with questions helps develop their thinking and communication skills.

12. Make the most of pretend play. Use pretend play to encourage communication by asking open-ended questions related to the play narrative.

13. Take them for a checkup. Ensure no medical issues interfere with speech development at regular doctor visits.

14. Celebrate Success. Whenever the child uses language, especially new words or phrases, acknowledge and celebrate their efforts.