Helpful hints and speech development – repetition is really the key

What to try 

• Try to really notice which letters your toddler struggles with. If you know they don’t yet say 's' clearly, this may help you understand what they're saying when their words are unclear.  
• When you understand what your toddler is saying, there is no need to ask them to repeat what they've said, even if their pronunciation was wrong.  
• If your toddler mispronounces a word, simply repeat it with the correct pronunciation when you respond. 
• So, if your toddler is talking about their “tick,” when they really mean “stick,” you could say, “Yes, your stick. Hello stick! That’s a lovely stick.” 

Good to know 

You might notice your toddler doesn't say all sounds clearly or they miss the end of words – this is very common in toddlers’ language development.