Supporting a late talker does not always require formal exercises. Everyday play, routines, and conversations can create valuable opportunities for children to understand and use new words. Here are five simple activities parents can practise at home.
1. Talk During Everyday Activities
Use daily routines such as bathing, eating, dressing, or going outside as opportunities to introduce language. Describe what your child is doing and use short, simple sentences.
For example, while getting dressed, you can name clothing items, colours, and actions. Repeating the same words during familiar routines helps children connect words with their meaning.
2. Pause and Give Your Child Time to Respond
Children who are late to talk may need additional time to process language and respond. During play or daily activities, pause after speaking instead of immediately answering for your child.
If your child reaches for a favourite toy, name it and wait. They may respond by pointing, making a sound, using a gesture, or attempting the word. Treat these attempts as meaningful communication and respond positively.
3. Expand the Words Your Child Uses
When your child says a word, build on it by adding one or two words. This provides a simple language model without putting pressure on them to repeat a longer sentence.
If your child says “ball,” you could respond with “big ball” or “throw the ball.” If they say “car,” you might say “red car” or “car is going.”
Over time, these small expansions can help introduce new vocabulary and simple sentence structures.
4. Make Storytime Interactive
Reading picture books together is a great way to build vocabulary. Instead of simply reading the entire story, pause to talk about the pictures, characters, objects, and actions.
Point to familiar objects and name them. Encourage your child to point, make sounds, or attempt words. Re-reading favourite books can also be helpful because familiar stories give children repeated opportunities to hear and practise the same vocabulary.
For additional support with speech and language development, explore our Speech Department.
5. Offer Simple Choices
Giving your child choices creates a natural reason to communicate. During meals, playtime, or getting dressed, offer two options and allow your child time to respond.
For example, you might ask which toy they would like to play with or which snack they want. Your child can respond by pointing, gesturing, or saying a word. Acknowledge their choice and model the appropriate word naturally.
When Should You Seek Professional Support?
Every child develops language at their own pace, but persistent concerns about speech or communication should not be ignored. Consider consulting a speech-language therapist if your child uses very few words, has difficulty understanding language, is not progressing with new communication skills, or has lost words they previously used.
Early assessment can help identify your child’s communication needs and determine whether speech therapy or other support may be appropriate.
If you are concerned about your child’s speech development, you can also book an appointment with our team.