Blogs | Think Pieces

My child isn’t talking yet

November 15, 2024

If your child isn’t talking yet, remember all children develop differently and at different rates. There’s lots of reasons a child might not be talking – for example, they may just need a bit more time. They may be learning to communicate in other ways. Or they might need a bit of extra help. 

How can I help my child learn to talk?  

It’s more helpful to think about how your child is communicating overall, not just through talking. Get down to your child’s level and observe how they communicate with you. Do they:  

  • Reach for things 
  • Point 
  • Give you things 
  • Lead you by the hand 
  • Make sounds 
  • Use looking/eye gaze 
  • Say words or phrases 
  • Nod or shake their head 
  • Use actions or gestures 
  • Move closer/further away from you 
  • Use facial expressions – smiling, frowning 

You can help encourage your child’s communication skills by responding to all the ways they communicate. Repeat back what they say or do and add words that match what they are telling you.  

Watch our video below to see this in action: 

I’ve been trying these tips for a while and I’m still worried. What else could this mean? 

All children are different. There’s so much conflicting information online that can be very confusing and overwhelming to read. It’s best to speak to a qualified professional who can give you advice about your child and answer any questions you may have.  

I’ve heard about approaches like sign language and Makaton – will these help my child? 

Makaton is one example of a signing system that can be used to support some children’s communication skills. There are lots of other approaches, but usually these would be taught under the guidance of a speech and language therapist. If you have been using recommended strategies for some time and continue to feel concerned about your child, it’s important to have a full assessment by a speech and language therapist to work out the best approach to support your child. 

What else can I try? 

Check out some of our advice pages: 

Have a look at our help for families webpage – we run regular webinars and we have a free advice line where you can book a confidential phone call with a speech and language advisor.  

For a full speech and language assessment, see our advice page on how to find a speech and language therapist.