Love Builds Language

February is a time filled with love, connection, and shared moments with the people we care about most. While it often feels simple and sweet, these everyday interactions are powerful opportunities to support your child’s language development. Let’s take a look at three meaningful ways to encourage communication this month.

Talk About What They Love

Children learn language best when adults talk about what their child is already interested in. Seasonal times of year naturally brings up favorite people, toys, books, and treats, which makes it a great time to follow your child’s lead and build language during everyday moments.

If your child points to an object, shows you a toy, or reaches for a snack, talk about what they are noticing or trying to share.

Real-life examples:

• Child: “Heart.” Adult: “Red heart.”

• Child: “Mommy.” Adult: “Mommy loves you.”

• Child: “Cookie.” Adult: “Chocolate cookie.”

• Child points to a card. Adult: “That card is for Grandma.”

Repeating your child’s words and adding one meaningful word gives them helpful language models in a natural way. This supports vocabulary and early sentence development without pressure. There is no need to correct your child or ask them to repeat you. Hearing language during everyday moments is enough to support learning.

Pause and Give Time

Children often need extra time to process language and organize their thoughts. During play, reading, or everyday routines, try pausing after you speak and give your child time to respond.

For example, during play or a simple activity, you might say, “Who should we give this card to?” Then pause, look at your child, and give them time to respond in their own way.

While coloring, reading, or looking at a card together, you could say, “I see a pink butterfly,” and then pause. This gives your child the chance to add a word, point to the butterfly, make a sound, or show you what they are thinking.

Even small responses like a look, a point, or a sound are meaningful steps in communication.

Pausing and waiting helps children take turns in communication and feel confident responding. Sounds, looks, and pointing are all meaningful steps in language development.

Celebrate All Communication

Communication does not have to be perfect to be meaningful. Children communicate in many different ways as they are learning, and all of those attempts matter. Words, word approximations, gestures, facial expressions, and signs are all valid forms of communication.

If your child:

• Uses a gesture instead of a word

• Says part of a word or an unclear word

• Communicates in their own unique way

Respond warmly and acknowledge the message they are trying to share. Your response helps them feel understood and encourages them to keep communicating.

For example, if your child points to an item and makes a sound, you might respond by saying, “You want the _,” or “That’s your _.” This shows your child that their message was received, even if it was not spoken clearly.

When you focus on what your child is trying to communicate rather than how clearly they say it, you help build confidence and reduce pressure. Children who feel heard and supported are more likely to keep attempting communication and continue developing their language skills.

Language grows through love, connection, and everyday moments. Slow down, follow your child’s lead, and celebrate every attempt to communicate. Those small moments of connection are where language truly grows!

Ella McCarty is a graduate extern at Scoop Speech and in her final semester at Jacksonville University's Master of Science Speech-Language Pathology program.