Don’t judge what comes out. Look at what’s going in.
Most babies say their first words around their first birthday, often “mama,” “dada” and a word or two more. Many put two words together around age 2. But “most” is not “all,” and the range is wide.
If your child is taking their time, take a breath. A late talker is not a slow child.
Einstein was a late talker
Albert Einstein didn’t start using words until after age 2, so late that his parents took him to a doctor. His sister wrote that the family feared he would never learn to speak. He used to whisper sentences quietly to himself, practicing them, before saying them out loud.
He turned out fine.
Every child gets there their own way
My two daughters showed me this. My oldest did it by the book: “dada,” “mama,” then simple words that grew slowly and naturally.
My second barely said a thing. Her big sister talked for her! Then one day she started talking, and it came out in complete sentences. She hadn’t been behind. She’d been listening the whole time and skipped right over the baby talk.
We judge by what comes out
Here’s the problem. We judge a child by what comes out of them, never knowing how much is going in.
We do this our whole lives. We test people to see what they know. But knowledge doesn’t always show up on a test. It shows up in what we do.
See how much they really understand
Try this with your little one:
- “Can you point to the orange?”
- “Pick up the red cup.”
- “Put the pink block on your head!”
When your child does it, that’s understanding. And it’s only a small piece of what’s really in there. Children understand far more than they can say, often long before the words come.
This is the age to build on
Never assume a young child is limited. At this age they are capable of absolutely amazing things. Their brains are soaking up everything. That’s not a reason to wait. It’s a reason to build on it, on purpose.
Talk with them all day. Name things. Ask questions and wait for an answer, even if the answer is a point, a look or a giggle. Every exchange is building their mind.
Books your child can answer before they can talk
That’s one reason I created the Needs Help! books. A character like Johnny needs your child’s help: what should he wear in the snow? Your child doesn’t need words to answer. They can point. As the words come, the pointing turns into “That one!” and then into “Because it’s cold!”
The thinking starts long before the talking, so start it early.
When to check with your doctor
Late talking is usually nothing to worry about, but it’s always worth mentioning at checkups. Talk to your child’s doctor if your child doesn’t seem to understand simple words, doesn’t respond to sounds or their name, or loses words they used to say. A quick hearing check can rule out the most common cause.
— Professor ANT
Try it with Johnny Needs Help! Made for ages 1–5, so even before they can talk, your child can point and help. Look inside → or see all the Needs Help! books.
