A limited vocabulary coupled with an extreme curiosity of the world is the disposition of a toddler. Toddlers begin letting go of gurgles and grunts as they want to more formally express their opinion with words that are ever-so-popular, like “No!” Outside of that exclamation, toddlers will mimic the words they hear from their parents to start their journey with speech.
What is one way to support toddler communication, you might ask? Simply chatting with them with your everyday speech will go a long way toward helping them thrive.
The checklist: Toddler communication milestones
Postponed speech: Toddler communication delay
If your toddler does seem to be delayed in their speech, the best advice is to first speak with your child’s pediatrician.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics website, HealthyChildren.org, the more simple delays in speech are most likely not indicative of a larger issue. Most delays are temporary. When your child is beginning to say one-word expressions but has yet to say two-word phrases, then give it time. However, if your child is experiencing multiple delays in not just speech but in other ways such as mobility, then it is time to reach out to a doctor.
