Once children have developed a large enough vocabulary, they might begin to put several words together to form a sentence. Early attempts might not be grammatically accurate, but it is important we encourage their efforts by gently modelling correct sentence construction. So, if your child says, ‘Baby go buggy’ you say ‘yes, baby can go in the buggy’.
We can also extend our child’s language when playing by commenting on what they are doing and asking questions. “You’re jumping so high”. “Can you make a bigger bubble?”
When sharing a book, we can discuss what story characters are doing and ask questions which require more than a single word reply. For example, ‘Why is Teddy doing that?’ Try to give your child enough time to think about what they want to say (this can take around 10 seconds).
Top tips:
- Always model correct speech back to your child rather than pointing out any mistakes they may have made.
- Imaginary play is a great way of modelling language.
- Remember that all children develop language at their own pace, but if you have concerns speak to your childcare setting and/or your Health Visitor.