Use Words to Say What You Need

1. 1

   Speaking with other people gives your child a practical reason to use language. Create low-pressure opportunities for them to communicate with someone less familiar.

2. 2

   At a bookstore, for example, invite your child to tell the clerk which book they want.

3. 3

   If your child looks at the clerk but stays quiet, offer a soft prompt: “You can say, ‘I’d like the dog book, please.’”

4. 4

   If that is still difficult, turn it into a choice: “Do you want the dog book or the bunny book?”

5. 5

   When your child chooses—“The dog one”—expand the response: “You mean, ‘I’d like this dog book, please.’ You can try that next time.”

What to notice

• Talks with a store employee, such as asking for help finding a book Communicating and Speaking
• Answers another person’s question, such as saying which book they want Relationships with Adults

Tips

• At home, ask open-ended questions, follow topics your child cares about, and allow enough time for an answer. Speaking for them less often gives them more room to try their own words.

Developmental benefits

• Language: Having a reason to communicate, hearing a clear model, and receiving a simple restatement helps your child make their message easier for another person to understand.
• Social/Emotional: Trying short exchanges with other adults gives your child supported practice interacting beyond the immediate family.