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Talking and communication

Approved activities and checklists for talking, gestures and early communication, gathered from the age pages.

What you can do at home

  • Give your baby face time and make eye contact.
  • Take turns talking back and forth.
  • Sing simple songs and rhymes with actions for your child to copy.

Talking and communication

Open the communication milestones checklist for early babies

Source American Speech-Language and Hearing Association

Talking and communication

Open the communication milestones checklist for 7 to 12 months

Source American Speech-Language and Hearing Association

Talking and communication

Open the communication milestones checklist for 19 to 24 months

Source American Speech-Language and Hearing Association

Activities to try

Talking and communication

Give your baby face time

What this helps your child practice

Neck strength and head control.

Materials needed

None. Just your face and your voice.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Make eye contact with your baby.
  2. 2Get your baby to follow your eyes and turn their head to watch you.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Get a link to share

Talking and communication

Move to music and sound

What this helps your child practice

Not yet added by staff

Materials needed

Songs, rhymes or a rattle.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Sing songs and rhymes, or shake a rattle.
  2. 2Encourage your baby to move to the music and sound.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Get a link to share

Talking and communication

Move to the beat

What this helps your child practice

Shaking, swaying and twirling to the beat.

Materials needed

Music. Simple props like ribbons or homemade shakers.

Simple instructions

  1. 1Listen to music that gets your toddler moving to the beat.
  2. 2Add simple props like ribbons or homemade shakers to encourage shaking, swaying or twirling.
  3. 3Sing simple songs and rhymes with actions for your toddler to copy.

Ways to include it in everyday routines

Not yet added by staff

Open simple songs and rhymes with actions
Get a link to share

When to ask for help

You know your child best. Raise any of these with your pediatrician or your child's therapy team.

  • Is not using gestures such as pointing, waving or showing.
  • Is not saying any meaningful words by around 15 months.
  • Uses fewer than 50 words or is not combining 2-word phrases regularly.
  • You have concerns about your child's communication.