The first signs of language appear as "cooing" around 3 months. By 6 months, he's babbling single syllables, and near the end of the first year speaks a few words. When he reaches his second birthday he will speak 50 words and use simple phrases; from then on vocabulary grows at a rapid rate. No matter what his age, you can't "make" a child talk, but you can significantly influence the onset of language and use simple techniques to encourage teens to communicate.
Early Development
Step 1
Engage in play. Play is the perfect time to use techniques that encourage your child to talk. Imitate the sounds she makes. Avoid using baby talk; speak to her using normal words so that she connects sounds with words. Talk to her about what you're doing. Assigning names to items helps her make the connection between words and their meanings.
Step 2
Respond to your child. Beginning with the earliest coos, react to the sounds he makes, as this will encourage him to made more sounds. When he gets a little older be sure to wait for him to respond in turn. Show him that he has your attention by making eye contact.
Step 3
Teach your child words she can use to express her wants and needs. When she tries to grab something, teach her to say, "I want that toy, please." She is highly motivated to obtain what she wants, so use that to prompt her to talk.
Step 4
Learn to become a "communicating partner." Dr. James MacDonald stresses that the parent's communication style is an important factor in language development. He developed an approach to facilitate speaking based on five strategies: "Be Balanced" (interact frequently and as much as your child, keep him engaged in back-and-forth conversation); "Be Matched" (play in ways the child can copy, talk about what he's doing); "Be Responsive" (respond to his interests, actions, emotions, language); "Be Non-Directive" (share control, follow his lead); "Be Emotionally Attached" (enjoy the interaction, make him feel comfortable, don't criticize).
Step 5
Schedule interaction with others. To develop language and be motivated to talk, children need interaction. They need to play with other children and they need adults who teach words, explain what words mean and associate words with actions. MacDonald states that they need people who partner with them at their own pace.
Teens
Step 1
Talk without lecturing or judging. Older children often want to talk, but worry about your reactions. If they feel they will just get a lecture, be told they're wrong or corrected with instructions about how to do it the "right way," they will choose not to talk. The goal is to encourage dialogue, actively listen and express your thoughts in a nonjudgmental manner.
Step 2
Create an atmosphere of availability. When your child approaches you to talk, don't keep working or respond with generic "uh-huhs" that make it clear you're really not available. Paula Statman, M.S.S.W., advises to think in terms of being an "inviting presence."
Step 3
Learn about the issues that are important for your teen. Be prepared to deal with unfamiliar subjects. Obtain information so that you can participate in the communication.
