Reviewed by a licensed speech-language pathologist

Quick answer: To get a toddler to talk, build language into everyday moments: narrate what you do, follow the child’s lead, pause for a turn, offer spoken choices, and expand on whatever sounds or words they give you. Keep it short, playful, and frequent, and seek an evaluation if progress stalls.

Watching other toddlers chatter while your own stays quiet can be nerve-wracking. The reassuring part is that a lot of what helps a late talker starts talking happens in ordinary daily life, not in a special program. The goal is not to drill words but to give your child more chances to hear, try, and be understood. Here are ten practical ways to get a toddler to talk, grounded in how young children actually pick up language.

What makes a toddler a “late talker”?

A late talker is usually a child between roughly 18 and 30 months who is behind on spoken words but understands language reasonably well and is developing typically in other areas. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association describes this pattern as late language emergence. Many of these children catch up, though there is no reliable way to predict which ones will, which is why encouraging words at home makes sense while you keep an eye on progress. The CDC’s milestone checklists give a helpful reference point for what to expect at 18 months and two years.

Which everyday habits help a toddler start using words?

The following approaches overlap with the strategies used by speech-language pathologists and by parent-coaching programs such as the Hanen Center. Pick a few that fit your routines rather than trying all ten at once.

1. Narrate what you are doing

Talk out loud through diaper changes, snack time, and walks. “Up we go. Now we wash. Warm water.” This gives your child a steady stream of short, repeated words tied to what they see and feel.

2. Follow their lead

Watch what your toddler looks at or reaches for, then name it. Children learn words for things they care about in the moment far faster than for things you point out to them.

3. Get face to face

Sit or crouch at your child’s eye level. Seeing your mouth move helps them connect sounds to how they are made, and it makes it easier for them to take a turn.

4. Pause and wait

After you say something or ask a question, count silently to five. That quiet gap gives a child who processes slowly the room to respond with a sound, a gesture, or a word.

5. Offer spoken choices

Instead of yes or no questions, hold up two items and name them: “Apple or banana?” This models useful words and invites a response, even if it is only a point plus an attempt at the sound.

6. Expand on what they give you

If your child says “ba” for ball, respond with “Ball! Big ball.” You are confirming their attempt and adding one small piece, which is how vocabulary grows without pressure.

7. Use gestures alongside words

Wave, point, and use a few simple signs like “more” and “all done.” Gestures are a bridge to speech, not a crutch, and children who gesture often move into words readily.

8. Read together, briefly and often

Short picture books with repeated phrases invite a child to fill in a word. You do not need to finish the book. Naming pictures and making animal sounds counts.

9. Trade some screen time for talk time

Passive viewing does not build back-and-forth conversation the way a caregiver does. The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages live interaction, so swapping even a few screen minutes for play and talk usually pays off.

10. Sing and repeat favorites

Songs with actions and predictable lines let a child anticipate what comes next and try the word. Repetition is not boring to a toddler. It is how the words settle in.

Between deciding to help and any formal support, families sometimes want a little structure for daily practice. Voice-first, play-based tools such as the Little Words app give a toddler low-pressure chances to hear and say words through short games a parent can start at home. It works best as one option among many and as a supplement to therapy rather than a replacement for it, and it should stay light and fun instead of turning into a test.

What should I avoid when encouraging talking?

Skip quizzing. Peppering a child with “What’s this? Say it. Say ball.” tends to shut them down. Avoid finishing every sentence for them or correcting pronunciation directly. If your toddler says “wawa,” you can simply model “water” back in a warm tone. Pressure and frustration are the two biggest talk-blockers, so keep the mood relaxed.

When should I stop waiting and get an evaluation?

Home strategies and professional help are not either-or. Consider requesting an evaluation if your child has few or no words by 18 months, has fewer than 50 words or no two-word combinations by age two, does not seem to understand simple requests, or loses words they used to say. The CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” materials encourage families to act on a concern rather than wait it out. You can ask your pediatrician or contact your state’s early intervention program directly, and a speech-language pathologist can tell you whether the pattern is a simple late start or something that needs targeted support.

Key takeaways

• Most strategies to get a toddler to talk fit into everyday routines, not special sessions.
• Follow your child’s interests, name things in the moment, and pause to leave room for a turn.
• Expand on the sounds and words your child already uses instead of quizzing or correcting.
• Gestures and songs support speech rather than delaying it.
• Seek an evaluation if words are very limited by 18 to 24 months or skills are slipping, since early support carries little downside.

Frequently asked questions

At what age should a toddler start using words?

Many children say a first word around 12 months and use several words by 18 months. Ranges are wide, so one late milestone is not alarming on its own, but a very small vocabulary at 18 to 24 months is worth watching.

How can I get my toddler to talk more at home?

Talk through daily routines, pause to give your child a turn, follow their interests, offer choices out loud, and expand on the sounds and words they already use. Short and frequent beats long and forced.

Does too much screen time cause a late talker?

Screens are not a substitute for back-and-forth conversation, and heavy passive viewing can crowd out talking time. Live interaction with a caregiver is what builds language, so trading some screen minutes for talk usually helps.

Should I make my toddler say a word before giving them what they want?

Gentle prompting can help, but demanding a word before every request often creates frustration. Modeling the word, then waiting and accepting a close attempt or a gesture, tends to work better than withholding.

When should I be concerned about a late talker?

Consider an evaluation if a child has few or no words by 18 months, fewer than 50 words or no word combinations by age two, seems not to understand simple requests, or loses skills they once had.

Sources

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: Late Language Emergence (Late Talkers) (asha.org)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Milestones at 18 Months (cdc.gov)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Developmental Milestones (Learn the Signs. Act Early.) (cdc.gov)
• American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): Toddler Development and Language Delays (healthychildren.org)
• The Hanen Center: Late Talkers and Early Language (hanen.org)