Playful First Words

Early Language Development Tip

Is your child stuck on imitation or not adding words frequently? Sometimes we need to back up a little to move forward with our children’s language skills.

Around 12-18 months, children are rapidly learning language while increasing their verbal imitation skills. We want to hear a minimum of 10 words by 18 months and if you feel like they are stuck on imitating words, try silly sounds! Of course this doesn’t mean we can’t ever use true words with them, but try incorporating a silly sound with a gesture.

Do not sleep on play sounds to get your child vocalizing! These also count as “words” too if you are trying to keep track of their expressive language. These types of sounds help your child to imitate back and forth, they grab their attention, and most likely meet them at their level. Encourage your child to get noisy!! These can be fun and done all throughout the day.

Instead of reading words in the book try animal sounds as you find animals in the scenes.

Beautiful first words book by Tabitha Paige MS CCC-SLP

 Examples:

Pant like a dog

Brrrr when you step outside or open up the freezer
Gasp
Squeal or scream
Grunt with effort opening anything
Yawn and pretend to go to sleep

Snore
Fake cough
Fake sneeze (especially with a toy on your head that goes flying)
Car/Truck noises
Siren noise
Fake laugh
Fake cry
Slurp with drinking

Gulp
Exhale after drink “Ahhhhh”
“Sh!”  
Growl “grrrrrrrr”
Say “ah” or another vowel sound in an empty bucket, paper towel or toilet paper roll, or in a funnel

Animal sounds and other play sounds like car and truck noises such as “beep beep” and “vroom” are powerful play sounds that toddlers love.

Try to pair these sounds with gestures and an action for added power. GET SILLY.