Share your tips for encouraging toddlers to talk to win one of TEN sets of Small Talk books

[SorchaMumsnet]

Small Talk is a parent’s guide to boosting speech and language skills from birth to four years. Published by pre-school specialist Campbell Books, Small Talk Bedtime and Small Talk At the Park are the follow-ups to this bestselling book. All three books are written by Nicola Lathey, an award-winning speech therapist and Tracey Blake, an experienced journalist.

Every page in Bedtime and At the Park is specially designed to encourage a baby to use a sound, a word or a sign. The illustrations are hearty and bold, and the text is catchy and repetitive so that the baby becomes absorbed in the rhythm of the story and begins to join in however they can. The parent models the words, sounds and signs which they want the baby to copy. This encourages the baby to communicate more, giving them the best possible start in life.

Share your tips for encouraging toddlers to talk for a chance to win one of TEN sets of the two new books, Small Talk Bedtime and Small Talk At the Park.

See some tips from Nicola Lathey

This discussion is sponsored by Macmillan and will end on 5 August

[Luckystar1]

Oh I have no tips but I'm going to order the book now as my DS (20 months) is an ok speaker but I'd like to help him more and I find the whole thing a mine field of conflicting information!

I'll be following this thread closely for tips!

[WowOoo]

I think reading and talking a lot can help speech. When my babies were little we used to read so many books at bedtime.

I used to tell my baby what I was doing and talk non stop to him.

[Faith1976]

My tips are to read, read, read and also sing songs and nursery rhymes and talk to your child as much as you can.

[glenka]

Reading lots of books is a really good way.

[ThemisA]

Read a lot and sing plenty of nursery rhymes. Find simple books with a line that is often repeated and when you get to the line say it together. Talk to them when you are out and about and stop and look at the world together. I use to point to items eg. car and say the word repeatedly. Ask simple questions eg. 'what's that' or 'where's your nose' and then if they don't answer point to there nose and say 'there's your nose' and repeat with 'where's mummy's nose?' etc

[Daytona79]

Reputation is the key I think , if I teach him a new word I say it a good few times then again a bit later on etc.

Also telling him everything I do even in supermarket etc talk him through what I'm buying etc

[Naty1]

A lot of 'where is daddy' type thing and they look.
A lot of repetition.
When they do say something repeat it, expand on it or eg say 'yes, its dada',
I used the first words books with dd. Pointing to the pictures say the word several times. Go through the book frequently. She would bring over the book.
Kids need to hear words a lot before saying them (i may have read about 50 times)
Individual words like saying
More, out, milk
Asking them to bring you things and telling them what they are showing you is.
We had a lot of play food. And read her a lot of 'thats not my..' books.

[hiddenmichelle]

Reading books together, and just talking about what you are doing....

[sunshinewey]

I would definately say using these type of books is by far the most helpful tool we could use.

[izbiz88]

Provide a constant running commentary whenever you're with them - talk about what you're doing and why. Read everyday and talk to them about what's happening around them. They will soon get there when they're ready :)

[happysouls]

Talking to them all the time and not using baby words! Making conversation to encourage them to join in, so asking questions and encouraging responses. Reading to them all the time as well. The more they hear the more they'll absorb!

[redbook]

I talk incessantly to my DS who is 2. I read stories every night and encourage him in conversation. When he tries to talk, I try not to finish his sentence even if I know what he is going to say or if he is stumbling with the words.

[bridge16]

By asking him questions or pointing to things and asking him what it is. Books are also an amazing thing to use

[CopperPan]

We go to the library every day and give Waterstones vouchers for each birthday and Christmas. We read stories together throughout the day and always bring several books to keep them occupied on journeys.

[firstooth]

We read and sing together quite a lot. Also when we go out I look a bit nutty because I chat to them about everything we can see and everything we're doing. Once they start chattering away they never stop but it's the best thing

[CordeliaScott]

Talk to them all the time, asking questions, even when they can't really answer. Lots of repetition and identifying things when they point at them.

[KirstyDoodlex]

Talk to them constantly - tell them what you're doing, point out things to them when out and about, ask them questions.

[kaydeed]

I think reading to my baby and mimicking their babbling so it seems like a two way conversation may help my baby with their talking.

[twocatsandatoddler]

We've been expanding on words he already knows - 19 month old DS LOVES cars so we've been adding adjectives like 'blue car', 'big car', 'mummy's car' to encourage him to start putting words together.

I also agree with reading books with repetitive/catchy phrases - DS now refers to certain books using his favourite phrase from them ("but MY cat" or "Oh Dear!").

[maamalady]

I think talking to them is good. But some children will just take longer than others to talk - those who don't have much of a vocabulary are not necessarily ignored by their families.

DD1 has just turned two, and can talk the hind leg off a donkey. We talk and read to her often, but she has been chatty all her life so she may well have developed good speech without quite so much attention. DD2 is three months and likes making noises, but due to having a sibling she gets a good deal less one-on-one attention. I'm hoping she talks as early and as well as her sister nonetheless, as it is very useful as well as lovely :)

[Ashhead24]

We do Sing and Sign and I find the songs are really good for repetition and picking out key words. Not much luck at talking yet, everything is Da (10 months) but it's given me lots of confidence and an insight into how babies learn.

[maamalady]

Definitely agree with repetition too - DD1 loves formulaic books and TV programmes, so she knows what's coming next and enjoys joining in. Nursery rhymes and songs are good too!

[Rachel69]

I think reading and singing nursery rhymes daily is great encouragement. My DS who is 3 is a great talker and started talking early however my DD who is 17 months is babbling but no clear words yet. I'm going to follow this thread for extra tips for her.

[FeelingSmurfy]

Narrate everything you are doing so that they are hearing lots of speech and the correct words for things

When they attempt, listen and repeat back e.g. they attempt to say train "did you see the train?"

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

I talked to my baby all day- pointing things out to her, chatting as we walked down the road.

I used a sling regularly and she benefited from being at head height whilst I was chatting to other people.

We took baby signing classes to encourage her to communicate.

We rarely have the tv on and DH and I talk lots instead.