If your child is not yet using spoken words, you may be wondering what comes next. The good news is that communication begins long before first words.
Children communicate in many different ways, and recognizing those early communication skills can help parents support language development and connection during everyday routines.
What Does Communication Look Like Before Talking?
Many parents are eagerly waiting for their child’s first word, but communication often begins much earlier. Before spoken language develops, children may communicate by:
- Pointing or reaching
- Making sounds
- Bringing items to an adult
- Looking toward what they want
For example, a child who brings you a toy may be asking for help. A child who looks toward a favorite snack may be telling you they want more. These moments may seem small, but they are meaningful signs that communication is developing.
Why Early Support Matters
Research supports the importance of early intervention over a “wait and see” approach. If you have concerns about your child’s speech, language, or overall communication development, reaching out to a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) for an evaluation can be an important first step.
During the first few years of life, the brain is rapidly forming new neural connections. This makes early childhood a critical window for developing communication, learning, and social connection skills. Early support helps create more opportunities for children to build these foundational skills.
Simple Ways to Support Communication at Home
Supporting communication does not require special toys, flashcards, or structured therapy sessions. Many of the best opportunities happen naturally during everyday interactions.
Engage in Vocal Play
Make silly sounds, animal noises, or playful voices during play. If your child makes a sound, try copying it and waiting to see how they respond. These back-and-forth interactions help build the foundation for communication and social connection.
Create Play Routines
Children learn through repetition and predictability. Using the same simple words or phrases during favorite activities helps children anticipate what comes next and encourages participation. Try phrases like:
- “Ready, set, go!”
- “Up, up, up!”
- “More bubbles!”
These routines can be used during play, movement activities, songs, and daily routines.
Use Core Words Throughout the Day
Core words are simple, powerful words that can be used in many different situations throughout the day. They can be used on their own or in short, meaningful phrases. Examples include:
- More / “I want more”
- Go / “Let’s go”
- Help / “I need help”
- Stop / “Let’s stop”
- All done / “I’m all done”
Using these words consistently during meals, play, and daily routines helps children hear language in natural, meaningful contexts and creates more opportunities for communication throughout the day.
Resources
Wondering when children typically begin using gestures, words, and phrases? The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) provides age-based communication milestone checklists that can help parents better understand speech, language, and communication development.
➡️ Communication Milestones by Age (ASHA)
Looking for Additional Support?
At Let’s Play N Grow, communication is embedded into everything we do. Our team provides play-based ABA therapy and collaborative speech-language therapy using naturalistic, child-led strategies that support communication in everyday routines.
Whether a child is using gestures, signs, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), or spoken language, our goal is to help them connect, participate, and be understood.
➡️ To learn more about our services, visit Let’s Play N Grow.