Every parent eagerly anticipates their child’s first words. But when those words don’t come as expected, worry and uncertainty often follow. If your toddler is speaking fewer words than their peers, you’re not alone approximately 10-15% of toddlers experience speech delays. The good news? Research shows that parents can significantly improve their children’s speech-language development through consistent home activities.
As an occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience working alongside speech-language pathologists, I’ve witnessed countless children blossom from quiet toddlers into confident communicators. This comprehensive guide provides 15 evidence-based speech therapy activities you can implement at home to support your late talker’s language development.
Understanding Late Talkers: When Should You Be Concerned?
Before diving into activities, it’s crucial to understand what defines a late talker versus a true speech delay.
What is a Late Talker?
A late talker is typically a child between 18 to 30 months old who has a limited vocabulary but is otherwise developing normally in areas like motor skills, social interaction, and play. These children often understand more than they can express and use gestures like pointing or waving to communicate.
Typical characteristics of late talkers include:
Fewer than 20 words by 18 months
Fewer than 50 words and no two-word combinations by age 2
Understanding language but not speaking it
Using gestures instead of words
Speech Development Milestones
Understanding normal speech milestones helps you identify whether your child needs intervention:
By 12 months: Says first words like “mama” or “dada,” uses gestures like waving bye-bye
By 18 months: Says 10-20 words, follows simple directions like “give me the ball”
By 24 months: Vocabulary of 50+ words, combines two words like “want milk” or “go park”
By 30 months: Uses short phrases, begins asking questions, understands action words
If your child isn’t meeting these milestones, early intervention through occupational therapy in Noida combined with speech therapy can make a significant difference.
When Late Talking Becomes a Concern
Not all late talkers have speech delays, but some warning signs require professional evaluation:
Professional speech therapy sessions typically last 30-60 minutes per week, but speech skills need daily practice to truly develop. When you incorporate speech activities into everyday routines, you:
Increase practice frequency: Turn meals, bath time, and play into learning opportunities
Build natural communication: Children learn language best in familiar, comfortable environments
Strengthen parent-child bond: Shared activities create positive associations with communication
Accelerate progress: Research confirms that parental involvement significantly improves outcomes
Children who receive early intervention services combined with consistent home practice show the fastest improvement in speech development.
15 Evidence-Based Speech Therapy Activities for Late Talkers
Activities for 12-18 Months: Building Foundation Sounds
1. Narrate Your Daily Routines
The simplest yet most powerful activity is parallel talk—narrating what you’re doing throughout the day.
How to do it: During meals, say “I’m cutting the apple,” “Let’s pour the milk,” or “Yummy banana!” While getting dressed, narrate “Arms up! Let’s put on your shirt. Now your socks.”
Why it works: Children learn words by hearing them repeatedly in context. This technique teaches vocabulary naturally without pressure.
Pro tip: Pause after speaking to give your child time to respond, even if it’s just a sound or gesture.
2. Animal Sound Play
Animal sounds are often the first sounds late talkers master because they’re fun and exaggerated.
How to do it: Use toy animals or picture books. Make animal sounds like “moo,” “baa,” “woof,” and encourage your child to imitate. Start with simple sounds and gradually introduce more complex ones.
Why it works: Animal sounds use different oral motor patterns, strengthening the muscles needed for speech.
Bonus: Create a farm scene and have animals “talk” to each other, modeling simple back-and-forth communication.
3. Bubble Blowing
This beloved activity is actually an excellent oral motor exercise.
How to do it: Blow bubbles and encourage your child to say “pop!” each time a bubble bursts. Model saying “more bubbles” when they want you to continue.
Why it works: Blowing bubbles strengthens lip muscles essential for sounds like /p/, /b/, and /m/. It also teaches breath control necessary for speech.
Books with predictable, repeating phrases accelerate language learning.
How to do it: Choose books like “Brown Bear, Brown Bear,” “Dear Zoo,” or “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” Read the same books repeatedly, pausing before key words to let your child fill in the blank.
Why it works: Repetition helps toddlers remember and attempt new words. Predictable patterns build confidence.
Reading strategy: Point to pictures while naming them: “Look, a dog! Big dog!” This connects words to visual images.
5. Sing Songs with Actions
Music and rhythm make language learning easier and more memorable.
How to do it: Sing songs like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” “Wheels on the Bus,” or “If You’re Happy and You Know It” with hand motions. Encourage your child to join in with actions first, then sounds.
Why it works: Rhythm helps children remember word patterns. The repetitive nature of songs builds speech memory.
Parent tip: Pause before action words (“The wheels on the bus go…”) and wait for your child to attempt the word or motion.
6. Offer Choices Throughout the Day
Providing choices encourages children to use words to express preferences.
How to do it: Instead of automatically giving your child juice, hold up two cups and ask, “Do you want milk or juice?” For play, ask “Blocks or balls?”
Why it works: Choices motivate children to communicate their desires. This strategy teaches that words have power to get what they want.
Important: Keep choices simple—two options maximum for late talkers.
How to do it: Play with playdough, kinetic sand, or water play while modeling words like “squishy,” “soft,” “cold,” “wet,” “squeeze,” and “roll.”
Why it works: Manipulating playdough strengthens hand muscles while sensory input supports language processing. For children needing sensory integration therapy, this activity provides dual benefits.
Language expansion: As your child plays, model simple phrases: “Roll the ball,” “Make it flat,” “Squeeze hard.”
Activities for 2-3 Years: Building Two-Word Combinations
8. Use Straw Drinking for Oral Motor Strength
Drinking through straws strengthens tongue and lip muscles critical for clear speech.
How to do it: Use straws of varying thicknesses—thicker straws and smoothies require more muscle work. Make it fun by using colorful straws or creating “juice taste tests.”
Why it works: Strong oral motor muscles improve articulation and speech clarity.
Speech connection: As your child drinks, model words like “yummy,” “more,” “all done,” or “cold drink.”
9. Mirror Talk Games
Visual feedback helps children understand how to position their mouths for sounds.
How to do it: Stand in front of a mirror with your child. Make silly faces, stick out tongues, blow raspberries, then practice specific sounds they find difficult. Show how your mouth moves for each sound.
Why it works: Children learn by watching mouth movements. Mirrors provide visual feedback that reinforces learning.
Make it playful: Turn it into a game—”Can you make a fish face?” or “Let’s blow like the wind!”
10. Picture Book Conversations
Move beyond simple reading to conversational exchanges.
How to do it: While reading, ask open-ended questions: “What’s the dog doing?” “Where did the ball go?” Wait patiently for responses—even pointing or sounds count as communication.
Why it works: Open-ended questions require children to think and formulate responses, building expressive language.
Progressive approach: Start with yes/no questions, advance to choice questions (“Is it red or blue?”), then open-ended questions.
11. Toy Phone Conversations
Pretend play encourages social language use.
How to do it: Use toy phones to have “conversations.” Model simple exchanges: “Hello!” “How are you?” “Bye-bye!” Encourage your child to imitate.
Why it works: Phone play teaches turn-taking in conversation and motivates children to use words in social contexts.
Real-world connection: This activity prepares children for eventual online therapy sessions if needed.
12. Meal Time Language Building
Every meal is an opportunity for natural language practice.
How to do it: During meals, name foods, colors, and actions. Say “hot soup,” “crunchy apple,” “pour water,” “yummy cheese.” Encourage your child to request foods by name.
Why it works: Food is highly motivating—children are more willing to attempt words when they want something delicious.
Communication strategy: Wait before giving more food. Say “Do you want more?” and pause for any attempt at communication.
Activities for All Ages: Building Communication Confidence
13. Expand and Model Correct Language
Never correct your child’s speech—instead, model the correct version naturally.
How to do it: If your child says “ba” for ball, respond enthusiastically, “Yes! Ball! You want the ball!” This validates their attempt while modeling correct pronunciation.
Why it works: Children learn through positive modeling, not correction. Pressure and correction can reduce willingness to try speaking.
Sometimes you need to create situations where your child must communicate.
How to do it: Place favorite toys on high shelves where they can see but not reach them. Put snacks in clear containers they can’t open. Wind-up toys that stop require them to request “more” or “go.”
Why it works: These “communication temptations” motivate children to find ways to express needs—through words, sounds, or gestures.
Balance is key: Use this strategically, not constantly, to avoid frustration.
15. Engage in Child-Led Play
Following your child’s interests is one of the most powerful speech-building strategies.
How to do it: Let your child choose the toy or activity. If they grab a toy car, you talk about cars: “Fast car! Red car! Vroom vroom!” Mirror their play and add simple language.
Why it works: Children are most engaged when playing with toys they’ve chosen. This natural engagement increases receptiveness to language learning.
Confidence building: Child-led play shows children their interests matter, building confidence that supports behavior therapy goals and overall communication development.
When to Seek Professional Help
While these activities can significantly support your late talker, professional evaluation is important if:
Your child has fewer than 10 words by 18-20 months
No two-word combinations by 30 months
Frequent frustration or behavioral issues related to communication
Regression in speech (losing words previously said)
For instance, activities like bubble blowing strengthen oral motor skills while also providing sensory integration benefits. Playdough manipulation builds fine motor skills essential for writing while encouraging descriptive language.
If your child shows signs of developmental delays, consider a comprehensive evaluation that examines both speech-language and occupational therapy needs.
Final Thoughts: Your Role as Your Child’s Best Speech Partner
You are your child’s most important speech therapist. The time you spend narrating activities, reading books, singing songs, and playing together creates thousands of language-learning opportunities that no weekly therapy session can match.
Remember that late talking doesn’t automatically mean your child has a permanent speech disorder. Research shows that many late talkers catch up by school age, especially with supportive home environments and appropriate intervention when needed.
However, don’t adopt a “wait and see” approach if you have genuine concerns. Early intervention provides the best outcomes. Studies confirm that children who receive early intervention between 0-3 years show significantly better language outcomes than those who start later.
Take the next step: If your child isn’t meeting speech milestones, schedule a comprehensive developmental assessment that examines speech, language, occupational therapy needs, and overall development. Understanding your child’s unique profile allows for targeted support that maximizes their potential.
At TNDC, our integrated approach combines speech therapy, occupational therapy, and early intervention services to support the whole child. Our experienced therapists work closely with families, providing not just clinic-based therapy but also coaching on home activities that accelerate progress.
Your late talker has the potential to become a confident communicator. With consistent home activities, professional support when needed, and your patient encouragement, those first words will come—and soon you’ll be reminiscing about the quiet days as your child fills your home with chatter and laughter.
Ready to support your child’s speech development? Contact us today for a free developmental screening and personalized activity recommendations tailored to your child’s unique needs.
