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

With all three of my kids they 4 and 1 years old and 8 weeks. Iv always spoken to them even when babies tell them what you doing, where your going,what colour things are ect .I was told while pregnant to always talk to them when they little as they will pick everything up even.we do alot of singing and reading.my first was a great talker from being young was saying long words and sentences before she should have been.my youngest I thought was going take longer as her sister Said everything for her,but past 4 months she's come on loads she's 2 in August. Now both of them talk your ear off. Also I found nursery helped loads

Agree with so many others. It's not rocket science, it's about exposure to words.
You need to talk to them all the time - just a running commentary on whatever you are doing.
Sing to / with them
Read to them
When they make a sound that might be similar to 'Dada' when he walks in an was probably 'that' then say "Yes, Daddy's here" etc. If they can say 'cat', then say "oh yes, the Big / ginger/ friendly / hungry / little / whatever cat" etc., to start expanding on those first few words.
Don't have the TV on all the time.

I try and provide motivation for my LO to talk by giving him options but waiting for him to tell me which one he wants. E.g. Would you like banana or apple and then waiting for a reply.

We go to the library each week sing songs and then choose books to read as a family at home

I have a non verbal 4yo DS. He rarely speaks, still at a single word level and is extremely quiet around unfamiliar people. The best advice I got was from his preschool teacher and it was to buy a voice changer - helmet, microphone, whatever - so he can hear his own voice and become more confident and have the opportunity to hear himself experimenting with different noises and sounds.

Also whilst I think talking and presenting lots of verbal stimuli is great. Constant overload isn't, and gaps need to be left for response.

My lo was an early talker, and I put this down to talking to her LOTS, narrating everything we did in a fun way, and being very animated when talking eg lifting up hands when saying 'up' and encouraging DD to repeat. She's jus turned 3 and her speech is very advanced. My niece is not even 18 months and we interact with her in the same way - she can easily speak short sentences already, just like my DD at that age. We have another lo on the way and I will do exactly the same this time around x

don't worry about looking bonkers when your talking all the time to your child hehe.out and about inside,all over point things out,hold conversations.let them hear you. you are the number one they will copy.hold every day adukt type conversations about "what shall we have for lunch,whos prime minister" but also the ones where your pointing out "ooh look a ball.a read car.stop sign this is when you pronounce things more etc
reading to them.bringing the character alive.get them interested in the words to copy. the name of their favourite character,food,book.

I nattered away to mine. Also treated their babbling as one side of the conversation and responded to it.

Also shared books, lots of them and sing songs and nursery rhymes.

Talking to them is my only tip. I have an ongoing dialogue of everything I'm doing. It does mean that on the rare occasion I go shopping on my own, I look a bit crazy speaking to my trolley!

Naming clothes as you dress them, naming dish, spoon, cup etc when feeding. Talking all the time telling them what you are doing. Naming people, Singin nursery rhymes and reading books, and naming everyday items they recognise in baby books.

I am hoping that reading to him will help, but so far (he is 17 mo) it is not going that great!

Familiar books with lots of repetition, finishing and making up rhymes - the sillier the better and lots of conversation - remember not to rush in if they are slow to respond. Little ones need lots more thinking time than adults and older children

Reading...purely & simply. Start when tiny babies with picture books & continue from there

We read a lot of books together. We always have stories before bedtime, but sometimes in bed in the morning or during a rare quiet moment in the afternoon too.
DD2's speech was very unclear, so I repeated everything she said back to her, partly to make sure I'd deciphered it correctly and partly to reinforce the correct sounds.

Reading books is good and pointing and naming objects - love this when eating too as every item has a colour or name

I would love to win these for my sister as my youngest nephew just isn't speaking and I know she's probably worried about him, love to help her out with these books, hopefully light to post out to her in Australia!

i find it is easier to start telling him about what i do and gradually he will join the discussion. This is more effective than probing him of what he did at nursery.

Talk about things that they are interested in. If they are playing with a certain toy, then lead the conversation with that toy.

I talk non stop to my 18 month old, almost narrating what I am doing. I also find picture books with simple words in like 'tree' 'shoe' 'bird' etc are really effective and she confidently points to the right picture when I say the word, usually trying to repeat me.

We read books together and I ask questions, even if I get a yes or no, it's a great start!

Absolutely agree with PPs - give them time to respond. You want dialogue, not just parental monologue. Well before speaking age I behave(d) as if DC's noises and babbles were one side of a conversation, they like the interaction so it encourages them to keep trying.

Oh, and actions when you're reading books or singing help to link sounds to meanings.

Reading short stories rather than long ones, there are many books with 365 stories and similar. Shortened versions of old classics are good too.

Talk constantly, even if it's nonsense - or you're just talking through the process of making a cup of tea in a clear, interested voice - use lots of bouncy words, good eye contact & make it sound exciting!
Show baby the cup as you get the cup from the cupboard, show baby the milk & make a 'sploosh' sound as you pour it in - you'll be surprised how many smiles you get from talking through such a menial task in a jolly way!
Reading is a really lovely thing to do together & I would strongly recommend joining your local library & attending any baby/toddler reading or rhyme groups. Great for tips if you're unsure how or what to read to your baby.
Enjoy it :)

We read books everyday. Point to things out of the window.
Talk to each other,give each other time to answer.
Ask to repeat words.
Explain what I am doing.