Learn valuable tips from a speech-language pathologist on how to encourage your toddler to speak and avoid common mistakes.

A literacy expert has offered advice to parents on how to ensure their toddlers are speaking at the rate they should be, and some common mistakes to avoid.

Moira, a speech-language pathologist from a US-based literacy company, Rooted in Language, warned against a string of common mistakes parents often make when chatting with their children between the ages of 12 and 24 months.

Tips to Optimize Toddler Speech Development:

1. Avoid saying ‘say this, say that’

Moira, the speech-language pathologist, explained that telling a baby to say a specific word increases pressure and reduces the likelihood of them actually saying it. Instead, parents should focus on using the desired word frequently in everyday language.

2. Avoid baby talk

Baby talk, which involves purposely misarticulating sounds to sound like a small child, hinders a child’s ability to learn age-appropriate words and sounds.

3. Expand their verbalizations

When a toddler says a word, parents should avoid simply repeating the same word back to them. Instead, they should expand their verbalization into a full phrase using more meaningful words to encourage language development.

Reactions from Viewers:

The video, shared on TikTok, has gained over three million views, with many parents expressing their intention to try these tips with their own children. Users have also shared their success stories, stating that their toddlers have started using advanced words after implementing these strategies.