Tips for Toddlers Learning to Talk
Category: Parenting Tips
January 26, 2026
Techniques to Help Your Toddler Talk
Do you talk to your child all day and feel like they understand everything? But, frustratingly, they don't respond or say words back. Language delays can lead to tantrums and tears because your child struggles to express what they need.
When parents tell us, "My child understands everything; they just won't talk," they’re describing a classic gap between two different parts of the brain: input and output. If your child’s input is high (they understand everything) but their output is low (they can't say it), there are things you can do to help your child express themselves.
Receptive Language (Input) versus Expressive Language (Output)
Receptive language is how your child understands the world. It’s the information they receive from you, other people and their environment. When you ask, "Where’s the doggie?" and they point or go to the pet. Or when you say, "Go get your shoes," and they walk to the hallway, that is receptive language.
Expressive language is how your child shares their thoughts. Humans develop language because they’re motivated to express themselves. This includes responding with their voice or with signs and gestures like waving "bye-bye" or pointing to something they want.
Late communicators sometimes seem to understand everything but struggle to coordinate the mouth muscles, the memory of the word, and the social cues or expectations to say it all at once. We’ll explain why that happens and ways you can support your child in this key moment of language development.
Language is Complex!
To say (or sign) a single sentence, a child’s brain must coordinate lots of different parts of the brain and body, including:
- Plan: "I want that juice."
- Focus: Filter out other people, the dog, and the toys to look at you.
- Working Memory: Remember the sound or gesture for "juice."
- Motor Skills: Move the tongue, lips, or fingers in the right order at the right time.
That’s a lot of steps for something adults do naturally and without thought! But kids learn it through imitation, or copying what they see happening around them.
Language Delays: Why Kids Don’t Talk
If a child isn't copying your words yet, it can mean different things. It could be that they don’t know the word or sign yet for what they need, or that their social "radar" is focused somewhere else (they’re not thinking about the juice), or that they haven’t developed the motor skills to produce the sound.
There’s no need to worry yet, since language development varies greatly. But you should be looking for other signs of language delays such as:
- Does your child look at you when you talk?
- Do they gesture or make non-verbal actions with their face?
- Do they vocalize any play or make any exclamatory sounds?
Your child may just be at a different step in their language development. Often, you’ll see language milestones in a specific order. Here is a more detailed guide to language milestones. But that doesn’t mean all kids follow the same path.
If you have concerns that your child isn’t expressing themselves, the first step is to talk to your pediatrician or consider an evaluation for speech therapy. The best time to work on your child’s growth and development is before age three.
Here are some strategies Any Baby Can’s Early Childhood Intervention program uses to weave a verbal imitation approach into your day-to-day life.
First, Copy Your Child.
It may seem silly, but before you expect a child to copy your words, you must first copy them! If your child is pushing a car, you push a car. They say “vroom,” you say “vroom.” If they point, you point in the same direction.
It teaches the child that copying what another person does is a game.
- Daily Tip: Set aside 10 minutes of floor time where you have no agenda. Simply narrate what your child does and mirror their movements. When they realize you are following them, they’ll start to look at you more often to see what you’ll do next.
Use what interests them, whether it’s dolls, cars or pretend food. When you copy your child's actions, they begin to notice the relationship between your behavior and theirs. This method is sometimes called “serve and return” and it’s a great way to build important brain connections! You can read more about serve and return or watch this helpful video.
Follow Their Lead.
Use everyday items or favorite toys to vocalize your play. And always give your child time to pause, react and copy...remember, it’s a lot of steps their brain needs to go through! They may respond slower than you expect, so make sure to allow that time.
Instead of quizzing your child ("What’s this?" or "Say apple"), start by demonstrating language instead. Here are some examples you can incorporate into your day:
At snack time as they show interest in the banana you’re cutting, say, “Banana. You want a banana. Buh-Buh-Banana. Yummy!” And then give them the banana.
If you are playing with a ball, don't just say "ball” and ask them to repeat it. Instead, you want to move from the physical (toy or action) to the expression (gestures or sound) and finally to the language (words and sentences). For example:
- Action: Roll the ball (wait for them to roll it back).
- Sound: Say "Wheeee!" as it rolls.
- Word: Say "Ball!" or "Roll!"
- Sentence: Once they are imitating the word, expand it to "Roll ball!" or "Big ball!"
Once your child starts making sounds or gestures, move to words. If they can say single words, move to sentences. You respond one step ahead. For example,
- If they say a sound: (e.g., "b-b") → You say the word ("Ball!").
- If they say a word: ("Car") → You say a two-word phrase ("Fast car" or "Go car").
- If they say two words: ("Mama juice") → You model the sentence ("Mama has juice").
Focus on this type of copying within your daily routines! There’s no need to sit down for a language lesson. In fact, it’s more effective to work with their social drive to communicate.
Watch as One of Our ECI Speech Therapists Uses These Strategies with a Toddler
Why Imitation is the Key to Language Development
It can be tempting to focus on the words kids aren't saying. But language is more than just talking; communication is a social exchange that can be done with sound, movement, gestures and more. We start with where the child is and work up based on their abilities.
No matter where your child is in language development, it starts with imitation. When a child copies you, they are saying, "I am like you, and we are doing this together." It helps children move more quickly through all the planning and focus that it takes to engage in conversation.
When should parents be concerned that their child isn’t talking?
Children grow and learn on their own schedules, and language development can vary a lot! If your child was born with a delay or medical diagnosis, they may have their own timeline.
Generally, first words can develop during the first year, followed by combining words and forming sentences during the second year.
If your child isn’t developing as expected or something feels “off,” discuss it with your pediatrician. Families in Texas with children under age 3 may request Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) services. Search for the ECI program provider in your area using the Health and Human Services search tool.
Share:
Share:
Share:
RELATED RESOURCES
Get help addressing developmental delays and other concerns before the age of three.
This video explains early intervention therapies offered through Any Baby Can, including physical, speech and occupational therapy, and specialized skills training.
Our expert staff share tips and ideas you can use with your family!
THANKS TO OUR MISSION PARTNERS
Investments from our supporters create long-term benefits for thousands of families across Central Texas. Join us in building a community where all families and children thrive.
