How to avoid delays in speech development in children?

Speech development in children is one of the most important aspects of their cognitive and social development. Every child learns to speak at their own pace, but it is important for parents and caregivers to support this process from an early age. Early intervention and appropriate methods can prevent delays in a child's speech development and facilitate effective communication.

Stages of child speech development

✔ 0-6 months – reaction to sounds, babbling, first vocalizations.
✔ 6-12 months – first syllables appear, imitation of sounds.
✔ 12-18 months – first words, understanding simple commands.
✔ 18-24 months – enriching vocabulary, combining two words into simple sentences.
✔ 2-3 years – development of grammar, building more complex sentences.
✔ 3-4 years – storytelling skills, asking questions.
✔ 5+ years – development of correct articulation, fluent communication.

How to support your child's speech development?

1. Daily conversations and active listening

✔ Talk to your baby from the first days of life, describing your activities and surroundings.
✔ Ask open-ended questions that require answers in complete sentences.
✔ Actively listen to your child, giving them time to speak without interrupting.

2. Games and activities that stimulate the development of a child's speech

✔ Onomatopoeic games – imitating the sounds of animals and vehicles.
✔ Word puzzles – filling in the endings of rhyming words.
✔ Speech therapy exercises – blowing games, lip and tongue exercises.
✔ Theatre games – role-playing, developing storytelling skills.

3. Reading books and telling stories

✔ Read age-appropriate books to engage your child in the stories.
✔ Encourage describing illustrations and predicting story endings.
✔ Repeat rhymes and poems that develop memory and vocabulary.

4. Avoiding mistakes that can inhibit speech development

✔ Don’t do the talking for your child – encourage them to express their thoughts on their own.
✔ Don’t be pushy in correcting – instead, model correct speech.
✔ Limit time spent in front of screens and focus on interacting with people.

When should you consult a speech therapist?

✔ A 2-year-old child does not speak or speaks very little.
✔ A three-year-old does not form sentences or has difficulty understanding simple commands.
✔ A child has difficulty pronouncing basic sounds at the age of 4-5.
✔ Articulation problems or stuttering persist for a long time.

Summary

Avoiding delays in a child's speech development requires the involvement of parents and the environment. Games and activities that stimulate the child's speech development, daily conversations and reading books are key elements supporting communication learning. It is worth observing the stages of a child's speech development and responding to any disturbing signals to provide the toddler with the best possible conditions for learning to speak.