Introduce new words to give your toddler’s language development a boost

What to try 

• Think about the things or people that your toddler already knows about. These could be the names of family members, food, toys, nursery or interests, for example.  
• If there is a group of things they like, like cars, think how you can extend their vocabulary. 
• So, your toddler might like playing with cars, and you find a lorry (or other more unusual vehicle) for them. They mightn’t have played with a lorry before and not know what a lorry is.  
• Use words to describe the lorry. 
• Go out and look for lorries on the road. You might say, “Oh look at that big lorry. The words say it is taking bread to the shops,” or “That lorry is parked.” Using words in context supports understanding of how and when to use them.