MyFeed Personalized Content
Weaning
Article

PLAYING: Kid talk: How to encourage junior’s first words

Add this post to favorites

Kid talk: How to encourage junior’s first words

Your child’s first words are likely to happen after a few months of kid talk. It’s an exciting time for you both as your little one starts to verbalise their wonder at the world — just prepare yourself for the torrent of questions that will follow soon after! Here are some things you can do to help teach your child to talk.

2 mins to read Jan 27, 2021

Tips

  • Try to teach your child to talk about the things you see and do.
  • Describe things as you’re doing them (I’m cooking dinner, I’m calling daddy, I’m packing your bag).
  • Aim to read to your child every day and describe pictures in books too.
  • Sing and act out songs and nursery rhymes to make learning words fun.
  • Try to expand on what your child is saying, for example if they say “dog” you can say “Yes it’s a black dog”.
  • Let your toddler clearly see your face and mouth when you’re speaking so they can copy the shapes your lips and mouth make.
  • Ask them to make choices like “apple or orange” to encourage them to speak rather than point.
  • Repeat words back to them correctly, but don’t focus on their mistake.
  • Turn off the radio, TV, or tablet so there are fewer distractions, and you can spend time focusing on talking to each other.

Join

MVP Logo

Here’s where you’ll find everything you need to make the best of those first 1,000 days of parenthood… TOGETHER.

  • icon paper

    Content for you

    Enjoy personalised content, parenting tips, latest product updates and promotions.

  • icon faq

    Tips & Advices

    Need nutritional advice? Speak to our nutrition experts.

  • icon box

    Free Samples

    Request a sample and try our products today!

  • icon calendar

    Tools

    Try our tailored practical tools to guide you through the parenting journey.

Search icon

Not quite what you're looking for?

Try out our new smart search engine