When do children learn to talk? Our guide outlines the development level and what parents can do to help their child learn to talk.
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Already two years old, but still very sparing with the words? This article examines whether parents of late talkers and late bloomers have to worry and explains how parents can promote the child’s language development.
When do children learn to talk?
The language development proceeds at different rates in all children. As a rule, around their second birthday they form two-word sentences such as “Ball away”, which means “The ball has rolled away”, or “Eating a cow”, which means “The cow is eating”. At the beginning of language development, you express yourself primarily with words that are important for communication. Small words such as “the”, “the” and “that” are omitted. Small children also use the basic form of the verbs and they simplify words, for example saying “Fant” for “elephant”. It is normal for a child at this age not to speak everything clearly.
Do parents have to worry if the child is two or more years old but almost does not speak?
It is important that the child has good eye contact with whoever is speaking to them. This eye contact is called triangular, because it connects the child’s ego, the person speaking and the object. Eye contact forms the basis for understanding language. An example: A child hears a phrase or a request from the mother such as “Get the fork!”. It looks at the fork, then its gaze wanders to the mother to check how she said it and whether she might say it exactly the same again. Eye contact and language understanding are therefore important criteria for successful language development.
Can children catch up with language?
There are children who don’t speak their first words until they are two or two and a half years old. These children are divided into two groups: late bloomers and late talkers. The late bloomers catch up on their own and develop normally afterwards. The late talkers, on the other hand, do not catch up with the language themselves. You need speech therapy to overcome the language development disorder. If parents are unsure which of the two groups their child belongs to, they should contact a speech therapist.
How can speech therapy help?
After a speech therapy clarification, a decision on therapy is first made together with the parents. With preschool children, it makes sense in many cases to carry out therapy twice a week. The speech therapist starts the therapy at the child’s level of development. For example, if a child has not yet made eye contact, the speech therapist will initiate eye contact in the game. She also advises parents on how they can help their child learn to speak in everyday life.
Do girls learn to speak faster than boys?
When do children learn to talk in each gender? More boys are affected by language and communication disorders. However, there is no evidence for whether girls learn to speak faster than boys.
Should parents encourage learning to speak?
Yes, by talking to the child a lot in everyday life! Parents can talk about things that have just happened or are over. It helps to involve the children in everyday activities and events. It is important that parents look at picture books or tell picture books with their children very early on.
Why are picture books helpful?
When telling picture books , parents offer language and combine it with images. The parents are a good language model here. Parents shouldn’t just “What is that?” ask, but also discuss what is happening in the book. “Where’s the bear?” “Can you find the red ball?”, “Oh look, the balloon is just flying away. Oh dear! Do you think you will find it again later? ” In this way the child can develop their own ideas and try to express them verbally. Rhyming and singing also support language development.
In what cases should parents contact the pediatrician?
If children around the age of two do not speak two-word sentences, have very few words available or understand language poorly, a speech therapy clarification is definitely necessary. The pediatrician can provide addresses. In many areas, parents can also contact a speech therapist directly.
