Nina Goldfuss
Speech and Language Therapist
How to Help Your Late Talker at Home (From a Speech Therapist)
If you're reading this, chances are you've been watching your child closely. Maybe they're nearly two and still not saying much. Maybe they point and gesture instead of using words, or they get frustrated because they can't tell you what they want. And you've probably been Googling, asking friends, comparing your child to others — and getting a dozen different answers.
I want you to know: you're not imagining it, and you're not overreacting. Worrying about your child's speech doesn't make you anxious — it makes you a parent who's paying attention. And the good news is, there's a lot you can do right now, at home, to help your child communicate.
Not sure where your child's speech is at? Our free quiz can give you a quick picture of whether their communication is on track for their age.
What Does "Late Talker" Actually Mean?
A late talker is a child who is slower to start using words than we'd typically expect for their age, but whose understanding of language is generally developing well. They might understand what you say to them, follow simple instructions, and clearly know what they want — they just aren't using words to express it yet.
It's more common than you might think. Research suggests that roughly 1 in 5 children are slower to develop speech than their peers. Some of these children do catch up on their own, but many benefit from some extra support — and the earlier that support starts, the better.
Here's a rough guide to what we'd typically expect at each age, based on what I see in my clinical work. If you want a fuller timeline, When Should My Toddler Start Talking? breaks it down month by month.
- 12 to 18 months: First words starting to appear — things like "mama," "dada," "no," "more." Lots of babbling and pointing.
- 18 months to 2 years: A growing collection of single words. Your child should be picking up new words fairly regularly.
- 2 to 2 and a half years: Lots of single words and starting to put two words together — "mummy help," "more juice," "big car."
- 3 years: Combining three or more words into short sentences. You should understand most of what they say, even if some sounds aren't perfect yet.
Every child is different, and these are guidelines rather than hard rules. But if your child is significantly behind these milestones, it's worth looking into — not panicking about, but looking into.
Key takeaway: A late talker is behind on using words, but that doesn't mean something is "wrong." It does mean they could benefit from some extra support.
When Should You Be Concerned?
It can be hard to know whether your child is just taking their time or whether there's something more going on. Here are some signs that it's worth seeking advice sooner rather than later:
- By 18 months, your child isn't using any words at all — not even "mama" or "dada"
- By 2 years, your child has fewer than 50 words and isn't starting to combine two words together
- At any age, your child doesn't seem to understand what you say to them (for example, they can't follow simple instructions like "get your shoes")
- Your child has stopped using words they used to say — that's always worth checking
- They're getting very frustrated because they can't communicate — lots of tantrums, screaming, or pulling you to things instead of trying to tell you
- They're not interested in other people — not making eye contact, not responding to their name, or not wanting to share things with you
Noticing one or two of these doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem. But it does mean it's worth having a conversation with a speech and language therapist, even just to put your mind at rest. You can also compare this list with 5 Red Flags That Your Child Might Need a Speech Assessment.
Key takeaway: Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it's always better to check early than to wait and worry.
What Can You Do at Home to Help Your Child Talk?
This is the part I really want you to focus on. Because while professional support is valuable, the truth is that therapy sessions happen once or twice a week — but you're with your child every single day. The strategies you use at home make a huge difference.
Here are the things I recommend to every family I work with.
1. Start "Special Time" — This Is the Big One
Special time is the single most powerful thing you can do at home. It sounds simple, and it is — but it works because it changes the dynamic between you and your child.
Here's how it works: set aside 10 to 15 minutes a day where you sit down on the floor with your child, with a couple of toys out and no distractions. Turn off the TV. Put your phone away. And then — this is the important part — follow your child's lead.
Don't direct the play. Don't ask questions. Don't test them. Just watch what they're interested in, join in with what they're doing, and model simple language as you go.
So if your child picks up a car and rolls it, you might say "car!" or "vroom vroom" or "go car!" You're giving them the words for what they're already paying attention to. That's modelling — and it's far more effective than pointing at something and saying "what's this?"
Special time works because it removes all the pressure. Your child isn't being tested or quizzed. They're just playing, and hearing words that match what they're already thinking about. It builds their vocabulary naturally, and it builds your connection at the same time.
Ten to fifteen minutes. Every day. On the floor. Following their lead. That's it.
Key takeaway: Special time isn't complicated, but it's incredibly effective. Sit on the floor, follow your child's lead, remove the pressure, and model simple language. Ten to fifteen minutes a day can genuinely change things.
2. Use Two-Word Phrases, Not Long Sentences
When your child is at the single-word stage, the temptation is to talk to them in full, complex sentences — "Oh look, shall we put the red car in the big garage?" But that's actually too much for them to process and learn from.
Instead, drop down to two-word phrases. If your child is using single words (or not yet using words at all), model language that's just one step ahead of where they are.
- "Big car"
- "Mummy's turn"
- "More bubbles"
- "Teddy sleep"
Short, clear phrases that match what's happening in the moment. Your child is far more likely to pick up "big car" than "shall we play with the big red car now?"
You're not dumbing things down. You're meeting them where they are and giving them something they can actually grab onto.
3. Stop Testing and Start Commenting
This is something I see a lot, and it's completely understandable — when you're worried about your child's speech, you start quizzing them. "What's this? What colour is it? Can you say 'dog'? Say 'dog.' Say it."
The problem is, this puts enormous pressure on your child. And pressure is the enemy of communication. When children feel tested, many of them shut down. They stop trying because the stakes feel too high.
Instead, switch from questions to comments. Narrate what's happening.
- Instead of "What's that?", say "It's a dog!"
- Instead of "Can you say ball?", just say "Ball! Big ball."
- Instead of "What colour is it?", say "It's red."
You're still giving them all the language. You're just removing the expectation that they have to perform. Over time, they'll start to imitate you — but on their own terms, when they're ready.
4. Choose the Right Toys
Not all toys are created equal when it comes to encouraging communication. The best toys for language development are the ones that create cause and effect and natural opportunities for interaction.
Some brilliant choices:
- Bubbles — your child has to request "more" or "bubbles" or "pop." You blow, they pop, they want more. It's a natural communication loop
- Ball — rolling a ball back and forth creates turn-taking and opportunities for "ready, steady, go!" or "my turn, your turn"
- Mr Potato Head / posting toys — these let you model "in," "on," "eyes," "nose" as you play together
- Cause-and-effect toys — things where you press a button and something happens. They're motivating, and they create moments where your child wants to communicate
- Simple puzzles or shape sorters — great for modelling words like "in," "turn," and naming shapes or animals
Avoid toys that do all the talking for your child — electronic toys with lots of buttons and sounds can actually reduce the need for your child to communicate because the toy does it all.
5. Use Books — But Don't Read Them the Traditional Way
Books are wonderful for language development, but with a late talker, you don't need to read every word on the page. In fact, it's often better if you don't.
Instead, use the pictures as a starting point. Point at things and name them. Let your child turn the pages. Follow their interest — if they want to stare at the dog on page three for five minutes, that's fine. That's five minutes of "dog," "woof woof," "big dog," "doggy sleeping."
Books with repetitive phrases are especially good because your child hears the same words over and over. Books with flaps or textures create natural moments for interaction too.
The goal isn't to get through the story. The goal is shared attention and language input.
6. Reduce Screen Time
I know this one can feel loaded, and I'm not here to make you feel guilty. But the evidence is clear: excessive screen time does impact language development, particularly in the under-twos.
The issue isn't that screens are inherently terrible. It's that every minute spent watching a screen is a minute not spent in back-and-forth interaction with another person — and that back-and-forth is how young children actually learn language. If you'd like a more detailed evidence-based explanation, read Is Screen Time Causing My Child's Speech Delay?.
If your child does have some screen time, try to make it interactive rather than passive. Watch with them, pause and comment, point at things on the screen. But where you can, swap screen time for floor time — even ten minutes of special time is worth more than an hour of a children's programme.
Key takeaway: You don't have to be perfect. Focus on adding more interaction, not eliminating every screen. Small changes make a real difference.
7. Reduce the Pressure Everywhere
This ties everything together. Late talkers often experience a lot of pressure — from well-meaning adults asking them to say words, from situations where they can't make themselves understood, from their own frustration.
Your job is to take the pressure off. Accept all their communication attempts — pointing, gesturing, pulling you somewhere, making sounds. These are all communication, and they all count.
When your child points at their cup, don't withhold it until they say "cup." Just say "Cup! You want your cup. Here's your cup" and hand it over. You've modelled the word without any pressure, and your child has learned that communication works.
Every child is different, and some of these strategies will click more than others for your family. That's completely normal. The important thing is that you're trying, and that you're doing it without pressure — on your child or on yourself.
When Should You Seek Professional Help?
If you've been using these strategies at home and you're still worried, or if your child's communication isn't moving forward, it's worth getting a professional assessment. Not because something is necessarily wrong, but because a speech and language therapist can look at the full picture and give you advice that's tailored to your child specifically.
General tips from a blog post can only go so far — every child is different, and what works for one family might not be exactly right for another. A personalised assessment gives you a clear picture of where your child is, what's going on, and what to focus on. If you'd like guidance that's specific to your child, booking an assessment is a good next step. If you're unsure whether to wait or move sooner, this guide on "Wait and See" or Act Now can help you decide.
I'd particularly recommend seeking support if:
- Your child is over 2 and using fewer than 50 words
- They're not combining words by 2 and a half
- Their frustration is affecting daily life — for them and for you
- You're not sure whether their understanding is developing as expected
- You've been told to "wait and see" but your gut says otherwise
It's also worth knowing that NHS waiting lists for speech therapy can be long — often 8 to 10 months from referral to actually starting therapy. That's a long time when your child is at a critical stage of development. Getting support privately doesn't mean you have to choose one or the other — many families do both. If that's your situation, NHS Speech Therapy Waiting List Too Long? Your Options may be useful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my late talker just catch up on their own?
Some late talkers do catch up without any intervention, particularly if their understanding of language is strong. But there's no way to know for certain which children will catch up and which won't. Early support doesn't do any harm, and it can make a significant difference — so it's generally better to act than to wait and hope.
Is it my fault my child isn't talking yet?
No. Late talking is not caused by bad parenting. You haven't done anything wrong. Some children are simply slower to develop speech, and there are many possible reasons — most of which have nothing to do with what you did or didn't do. Feeling guilty is completely natural, but please don't carry that.
How much screen time is too much?
There's no single magic number, but current guidance suggests avoiding screen time altogether for children under 2, and limiting it to an hour a day for children aged 2 to 5. The key is what's replacing it — if screen time is replacing interactive play and conversation, that's where the impact shows up. Focus on adding more interaction rather than just cutting screens.
Should I correct my child when they say a word wrong?
Rather than correcting them directly ("No, it's not 'tat,' it's 'cat'"), just model the correct word back to them naturally. If they say "tat," you say "Yes, cat! A big cat." They hear the right version without feeling corrected. Over time, their speech sounds will develop — and if they don't, that's something a speech therapist can help with. If you want to know when sound swaps are typical, see My Child Says "Tat" Instead of "Cat": Should I Worry?.
Can online speech therapy work for toddlers?
Yes, and it often works differently to what people expect. A lot of what we do with young children is actually parent coaching — teaching you the strategies to use at home, every day. The therapist doesn't need your toddler to sit in front of a screen for 30 minutes. Instead, we work with you, guide you through strategies like special time, and help you become your child's best communication partner.
You're already doing more than you think by looking into this. The fact that you're here, reading about how to help your child, tells me you care deeply — and that matters more than any single strategy.
If you're still unsure about where your child is, book a free chat and we can talk it through together. No pressure, no commitment — just a conversation about your child and what might help.