You child's vocabulary will be developing fast and your role as the adult is vital to support this phase even further. There are many things that you can do to support your child when out and about and at home, children learn to talk, every time you talk to them. Children learn to listen every time you listen to them.
You may find changes in your child's behaviour during this phase and this can be due to frustration, having so much to say but not always being able to express themselves clearly because they are still learning new vocabulary.
Reducing background noise is really important even from the youngest of ages because young children struggle to filter out noises. If you talk to your child while the television or music is on they will find it hard to hear you clearly and the sounds you are using in your words.
You might start to notice your child likes to listen to the same story over and over again as much as you might want to change the book they always want to return to the one they know. Sharing the same story over and over again firstly allows the child to become so familiar with the story, that they will begin to feel more comfortable to join in and they also know what to except and what is going to happen next.
Children benefit from when an adults speech is slowed down and instructions are giving one at a time otherwise its really hard for a child to concentrate on too much in one go.
When playing with your child try and follow their lead, this helps them remain interested for longer as its about what they are interested in.When playing with your child try and comment on what they are doing rather than asking questions. Making comments on what they are doing helps them make connections with their actions and will also allow them to hear more words.
A short film from the Communication Trust, narrated by Kathy Burke, with helpful tips to support our 1-2 year olds communication. Worth a watch!
The Words for Life organisation have put together a recommended book list for young children. Click on the link in the sidebar to find out more.
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