Respond to what your child says or does
How do young children communicate?
When young children are learning to communicate, they often use actions and sounds to show what they’re thinking. They might point at something they want, look at something that interests them, or make sounds to show they are excited.
How does responding to what my child says or does help their communication skills?
When you reply to what your child says or does, you show them that you are listening and that their ideas matter. This helps them feel confident to keep communicating. Whether they use actions, sounds, or words, responding encourages them to communicate more.
How do I respond to what my child says or does?
When your child does an action, makes a sound or says a word, try to do or say something back. Here’s how:
This shows you are listening and that what they say matters. If your child says “uh-oh” when their blocks fall, say “uh-oh!” too. If they clap their hands when happy, clap with them.
Adding a word or two helps your child learn new words. If they point at a plane, you can point too and say, “Plane!”
If your child uses sounds or made-up words, you can say what you think they mean. If they make a sound while looking at a dog, you can say, “It’s a dog! Woof woof. You like the dog.”
If your child doesn’t reply, that’s okay! Just wait a little and try again.
Where can I find more ideas to help my child’s communication skills?
Have a look at some of our other advice pages:
