- Repeat the sounds your baby makes. This will encourage your baby to make more sounds and she will learn to copy you
- Play games where you have to take turns, like peep-bo and round and round the garden, so your child learns how conversations work
- When your child is trying to say a word but gets it wrong, say the word correctly. For example, if they point to a cat and say ‘Ca!’ say, ‘Yes, it’s a cat.’ Don’t criticise them for getting the word wrong.
- Encourage your child to use words by giving them choices, such as, ‘Do you want an apple or a banana?
- If your child is already talking, try to use sentences that are a word or two longer than their sentence
- Give your child opportunities to talk (such as in the bath, in the car or just before bed).If you ask a question, give them plenty of time to answer
- Background noise will make it harder for your child to listen, so switch off the television and radio
- Restrict use of their dummy to sleep time. It’s hard to learn to talk with a dummy in your mouth.
