My very active toddler not talking - What to do?

New parents or a parent who has a toddler at home are all eager to hear the cute ba-ba or da-da sounds from their toddlers. A tiny little word from the little bee makes our day worth remembering.

but what happens when a very active toddler not talking? And for a parent, this situation can be both concerning and frustrating.

But remember, you are not the only parent experiencing the situation where your toddler understands but won't talk. While every child develops at their own pace, there are some steps you can take to encourage your toddler's speech and language skills. In this blog, we will explore the reasons why your active toddler might be slower to talk and provide practical tips and strategies.

When should a toddler start talking?

Toddlers usually learn to speak from 6 months to 3 years of age. For a detailed description of their talking stages, go through the toddler talking milestones.

Toddler talking milestones

My very active toddler not talking – Why?

1. Individual variation: Children learn language at their own pace, some might start talking late due to their developmental timeline.

2. Focus on physical skills: If your very active toddler not talking, then you should look at his activities. He might be focused on physical activities rather than verbal skills.

3. Receptive vs. expressive language: The children might be developing their understanding of language quicker than the ability to express themselves.

4. Exposure to language: If a toddler is not regularly engaged in conversations, reading, or singing, they may take longer to start speaking.

5. Hearing issues: Hearing problems can affect the speech of toddlers, as they might face problems imitating sounds and words.

6. Speech and language delays: In some cases, delays in speech and language development might be due to underlying conditions or disorders.

How to encourage toddler to talk?

1. Regular conversation

Talking with your toddlers frequently about daily activities will enhance their language and speaking skills. You can start by narrating your actions and then asking about theirs and asking questions to get more responses from them. These simple conversations about the daily routines will help them express themselves more clearly.

2. Read together 

Reading together with your toddler on a regular basis will not only boost their vocabulary but also help them in finding connections between words and their meanings. Choose a colorful and age appropriate book for your toddler that will capture their attention and motivate them to name the objects in the books.

3. Sing songs and rhymes

Sing songs and rhymes to enhance their language development. The musical activities are not only fun but also beneficial in building speech skills and can motivate even the toddler not interested in talking. The repetitive nature of songs and rhymes helps toddlers learn new words and phrases, making it easier for them to remember and use them in their own speech.

4. Encourage play and social interaction

Encouraging play and social interaction is a good way to enhance your toddler’s language skills and communication development. Including playdates, role-playing games, imaginative play and group activities in your toddlers routines will support their social and emotional growth. It will also create an environment where your toddler’s skills are also.

5. Limit screen time

Remember to limit the screen time for your toddler, and to do so, you should focus on activities that encourage hands-on engagement and face-to-face interaction. Make sure the content is high quality and educational. Also, create clear boundaries and a balanced routine for screen times to change their screen time into an active learning experience.

6. Seek professional advice

In case you have concerns about your child's speech development, then you take help from a pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist. They will not only identify and evaluate the issue your child is facing, but they will also provide proper guidance, practical strategies and tips to use at home.

How to teach toddler to talk?

• Create a language-rich environment: Talk frequently with your toddler, as this will ensure that their vocabulary and understanding are enhanced.
• Use simple and clear speech: Always use simple and clear sentences when talking with your toddler and avoid using complex language. Remember to repeat the words to reinforce learning.
• Encourage imitation: When talking to your toddler, motivate them to repeat the words, as this will help them learn the words faster.
• Play interactive games: Engage in activities that promote verbal interaction, such as role-playing games, singing songs, and using toys that encourage dialogue.
• Expand on their words: While speaking with your toddler, remember to expand on the words and provide more information about them.
• Use visual and physical cues: Combine words with gestures and visual aids. For example, point to objects and name them, or use picture cards to illustrate words and concepts.

Activities to help toddler talk!

Wondering how to get toddler to talk? These activities might help:

1. Story time with a twist

Story sessions are interactive and interesting times where parents not just read books to their children but engage them in this beneficial activity too. To plan a story time with your toddlers, follow the steps:

• Choose the right story book.
• Describe pictures, ask questions and name the characters depicted in the story.
• Encourage them to predict the outcome of the story.
• After finishing the book, encourage your child to retell the story in their own words.
• Take storytime to the next level by incorporating role playing.

2. Treasure hunt

A treasure hunt is an educational activity in which you can hide objects in your house and your toddler will find the object. When he finds the object, you can ask them to describe it. Follow the steps to play treasure hunt with your toddlers:

• Choose a theme for the treasure hunt.
• Write simple clues that lead your child from one location to the next.
• Select a few objects to hide around the house.
• To begin the game, read the clues and ask your toddler to find the hidden objects.
• Teach your child positional words like “under,” “behind,” “next to,” and “in front of." Also, ask your child to count the objects they find or sort them by color. 

3. Puppet play

Use puppets or stuffed animals to act out simple scenarios and conversations. This can help your child learn new words and phrases in a playful context. You can create little skits about daily activities, emotions, or favorite stories.

• Gather puppets and props for the activity.
• Set up a small stage area for your puppet shows. 
• Start by introducing the puppets to your child and acting out simple scenarios.
• Use puppet play to introduce new words and phrases.

4. Cooking together

Cooking together with your toddler is not only a fun activity, but it is also an opportunity to enhance their language development and build their vocabulary. Here is how you can arrange a cooking time with your toddler:

• Select recipes that are simple and safe for your toddler to help with.
• Gather all the necessary ingredients and child-safe tools.
• Introduce the ingredients, describe each action and encourage your toddler to repeat the words.
• Also, encourage them to partake in simple activities like washing fruits and vegetables.

5. Telephone game

Play a telephone game with your toddler, teaching toddler to talk, taking turns, and using polite greetings and closings. Here is how you can play the game:

• Use toy phones or create pretend phones with objects.
• Begin the game by showing your child how to start a phone conversation with a greeting. 
• Demonstrate a simple conversation by taking turns talking on the pretend phone.

Wrap-Up!

Dear parents or guardians, if you are facing a situation where a very active toddler not talking then this guide will morph this challenging scenario into a rewarding one. When encouraging your toddler to talk, remember each child has its own developmental pace, and there are many ways to support and encourage their speech development.