When to Seek Help Immediately

Call a Speech-Language Pathologist if your child:

By 18 Months:

• No words or very few words (fewer than 10)
• Doesn’t point or gesture
• Doesn’t respond to their name

By 24 Months:

• Fewer than 50 words
• No two-word combinations (“more milk”, “go car”)
• Family can’t understand most of what they say

By 3 Years:

• Strangers can’t understand their speech
• Not using 3-4 word sentences
• Difficulty playing or talking with other children

Any Age:

• Loses skills they once had
• Extreme frustration when trying to communicate
• Voice sounds hoarse or breathy for weeks

Communication Milestones Checklist

12-18 Months

• Says first words (mama, dada, hi, bye)
•  Points to request things
•  Follows simple directions (“come here”)
•  Enjoys peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake

18-24 Months

•  Uses 50+ words
•  Combines two words (“more cookie”)
•  Points to body parts when named
•  Asks “what’s that?” frequently

2-3 Years

•  Uses 200+ words
•  Makes 3-word sentences
•  Asks lots of questions
•  Tells simple stories about experiences

3-4 Years

•  Speaks in complete sentences
•  Strangers understand most speech
•  Plays pretend and talks during play
•  Follows 2-step directions

4-5 Years

• Uses complex grammar correctly
•  Tells detailed stories with beginning, middle, end
•  Speech is completely clear
•  Engages in back-and-forth conversations

 Daily Communication Boosters

Morning Routine (5-10 minutes)

While Getting Dressed:

• Talk about clothing choices: “Red shirt or blue shirt?”
• Describe actions: “Arms up! Now pull down!”
• Practice requesting help: “Help please” or “I need help”

During Breakfast:

• Offer choices: “Cereal or toast?”
• Describe textures and tastes: “Crunchy cereal!” “Sweet banana!”
• Practice polite requests: “More please” “All done”

Throughout the Day

The Magic Formula: STOP → LISTEN → RESPOND

1. Stop what you’re doing when your child communicates
2. Listen with your eyes and ears
3. Respond to what they meant, not how they said it

Example:

• Child says: “Wa-wa”
• You respond: “You want water! Here’s your water.”
• Don’t correct pronunciation—model the right way naturally

Bedtime Stories (10-15 minutes)

• Ask questions about pictures: “What do you see?”
• Pause and let them fill in familiar words
• Connect stories to their experiences: “Remember when we saw a dog?”

 Proven Strategies That Work

1. Follow Your Child’s Lead

• Join in what they’re already interested in
• If they’re playing with cars, you play with cars too
• Talk about what they’re doing: “Fast car! Zoom zoom!”

2. The Power of Pausing

• Give your child time to respond (count to 5 in your head)
• Don’t rush to fill the silence
• Research shows: Children need more processing time than adults

3. Expand and Extend

• Child says: “Ball”
• You say: “Big red ball! Rolling ball!”
• Add one or two words to what they said

4. Create Communication Opportunities

• Put favorite toys where they can see but not reach them
• Give them just a little bit of what they want so they ask for more
• “Forget” to give them their spoon at mealtime

5. Make Communication Functional

Focus on words your child can use RIGHT NOW:

• Daily needs: “help,” “more,” “done,” “go”
• Social words: “hi,” “bye,” “please,” “thank you”
• Feelings: “happy,” “sad,” “mad,” “scared”

 For Multilingual Families

What’s Normal in Bilingual Development

 Normal: Mixing languages in the same sentence
 Normal: Being stronger in one language temporarily
 Normal: Taking longer to talk in the beginning
 Normal: Understanding more than they can say

Red Flags in ANY Language

 Concerning: No communication attempts in any language
 Concerning: Not understanding simple directions in their strongest language
 Concerning: No social interest or eye contact

Supporting Multiple Languages

• Keep using your heritage language – it helps, doesn’t hurt
• Read books in both languages
• Connect with other families who speak your language
• Don’t worry about “confusing” your child – their brain can handle it!

 Quick Fixes for Common Concerns

“My child points instead of talking”

Try this:

• Acknowledge the pointing: “You want the cookie!”
• Wait 3-5 seconds for them to try a word
• If no word comes, model it: “Cookie! You want cookie!”
• Give them the item and celebrate any sound they make

“My child gets frustrated and has tantrums”

Try this:

• Stay calm and validate feelings: “You’re frustrated! It’s hard when we can’t say what we want.”
• Offer simple words: “Help? More? Done?”
• Don’t give in to tantrums, but do help them communicate

“My child only says single words”

Try this:

• When they say “milk,” you say “want milk” or “more milk”
• Give them the milk and repeat: “Here’s more milk!”
• Don’t demand they repeat it—just model it consistently

“Other people can’t understand my child”

Try this:

• Don’t constantly correct pronunciation
• Focus on clear communication of needs first
• If sounds are very unclear by age 3, seek professional help

 Technology Tips

Good Screen Time for Communication

✅ Video calls with family – real interaction!
✅ Educational apps you use together – talk about what you see
✅ Singing and music videos – language through rhythm

Avoid for Language Learning

❌ Passive watching without interaction
❌ Fast-paced shows with quick scene changes
❌ Using devices as babysitters during communication opportunities

 Focus Areas by Age

Babies (0-12 months)

Priority: Back-and-forth interaction

• Imitate their sounds back to them
• Take turns in “conversations”
• Sing and read every day

Toddlers (1-2 years)

Priority: First words and requests

• Focus on functional words they can use
• Create lots of opportunities to communicate needs
• Don’t worry about perfect pronunciation

Preschoolers (3-5 years)

Priority: Conversation and social skills

• Practice taking turns in conversation
• Work on asking and answering questions
• Encourage storytelling about their day

 Emergency Communication Plan

If your child is having a communication meltdown:

1. Get down to their eye level
2. Stay calm and speak slowly
3. Offer simple choices: “Help or all done?”
4. Validate their feelings: “You’re upset. I want to help.”
5. Use gestures and visuals if words aren’t working

 When to Call a Professional

Don’t Wait – Act Now If:

• Your gut tells you something isn’t right
• Your child is falling behind milestones consistently
• Family members express concern
• Teachers or caregivers mention communication challenges
• Your child seems frustrated with communication frequently

What to Expect in Professional Help:

• Evaluation: Usually 1-2 hours, includes play-based activities
• Family involvement: You’re the expert on your child!
• Home strategies: Professionals will teach you techniques
• Regular check-ins: Progress monitoring and strategy adjustments

Remember: Early help leads to better outcomes. Research shows 85% of children make significant progress with appropriate support.

 Quick Daily Wins

Morning (2 minutes):

• Offer breakfast choices
• Describe getting dressed

Afternoon (5 minutes):

• Narrate one activity you do together
• Ask about their favorite part of the day

Evening (10 minutes):

• Read one book together
• Talk about tomorrow’s plans

Anytime:

• Respond to every communication attempt
• Celebrate effort, not perfection
• Follow their interests

 Remember: You’ve Got This!

 Every child develops at their own pace
 Small, consistent efforts make big differences
 Professional help is a strength, not a failure
 Your love and interaction are the most powerful tools

Trust your instincts. You know your child best.

For professional support and resources, visit the Numuw platform to connect with licensed speech-language pathologists who understand your family’s unique needs.

Questions? Concerns? Don’t hesitate to seek professional guidance. Early support creates lifelong communication success!