What else can I do to encourage my daughter's speech?

[Nancyclancy]

My dd is 2 yrs and 7 months. She knows lots of single words but I wouldn't say she's talking properly. Her tantrums are slowly easing off and I'm finding I can reason with her a little more, so she understands.

She says please and thank you with very little prompting and chats a great deal in her own language.

I read regularly to her as she loves books, we meet with other children and she is about to start pre school for 2 mornings per week. I'm constantly showing her things etc and saying what they are etc.
Is there anything else anyone can suggest? Thanks

Commentary?
You'll probably see a huge leap when she starts pre-school and if they're a decent nursery, they'll pick up any problems and support.

My DS had intensive speech therapy for hearing issues etc. the speech therapist said the best thing you can do is stop trying to teach them. Knowledge of colours, numbers etc will just come if you just talk. Just talk about everything and anything.
It really helped me feel a burden had gone and as the other poster said, when pre-school starts their language will normally explode.

Speech therapist said to me it can help to offer choices if they are unsure. Not just for things you want them to choose as such, but if say you ask them "what does the cow say?" or "what colour is the car?" and they are very hesitant, try suggesting "is it baa or moo?" or "is it red or blue?"

You sound like you are doing all the right things OP.

Different advice here... don't ask her too many questions as she might feel under pressure to answer. Comment on her play, with short sentences. If she says 'car' you answer 'yes, RED car. Look, a red car. Shiny red car." If she says 'milk' you say 'yes, nice COLD milk. Lovely cold milk, mmmm'.

You can offer a choice, but don't expect that she will answer with words. Don't ask too many quesitons such as 'what colour is that car' but instead add and comment with short, clear sentences making sure you repeat key words. If she says a single word, make a short sentence about it - not too long, don't spend your time talking and talking and talking, just focus on clear short sentences. When she has enough single words in her 'bank' she will start putting them together. Encourage short two or three-word sentences such as 'all gone', 'oh dear', 'more please', 'in a minute', 'bib on', 'get down', etc

A lot more tips in the book 'It Takes Two To Talk'.

Don't try to teach her or test her.

Just talk lots to her about everything you're doing. Children don't learn by being encouraged to speak. They learn by listening to others speaking to them.

Use clear simple language without any baby words. Try to use the same format for the same thing, e.g. at the end of the meal, always use the same words to ask her if she's finished.

Don't expect too much of pre-school. The adult to child ratio is much less favourable so she won't have someone talking directly to her very much. Make it clear to them that she shouldn't be expected to earn things by speaking. She might make more effort to communicate verbally if she realises that the people at pre-school don't automatically know what she wants like you do but you don't want her put under any pressure.

If you habitually have the tv on for background noise turn it off so she can focus more on the speech she is hearing.

If you feel concerned you can ask for a SALT referral. Our local SALTs say that they would rather see all children who are a bit behind but end up catching up by themselves because that means they catch the ones that need a bit of help at the right time.

I agree with above- cut down on the question asking. In fact cut down on your language altogether. If she comes to you with her shoes. Use a big gesture like open hands and "what does dd want?" And WAIT... Wait... Wait... An awkward length of time. Then if she answers 'shoes' you then say "shoes on" or " shoes on please" the secret is to wait and really give her a chance to speak. Keep sentences short. 2-3 words max initially and act as though you have no clue what she wants. Withhold your language so she will use hers.