Look at this! Is your toddler using words to share their interests?

Using words to share their interests with you is a big step for your toddler – and might make it a bit easier for you to know what they want to show you! So, as well as reducing the guesswork for you, why is using words to share their interests important?  

Learning to talk involves not only understanding words and knowing how to say them, but also understanding the different reasons for talking. The same applies if your toddler is learning to communicate using signs.  

Understanding comes before talking 

Your toddler will understand more words than they use. When you say things like, “Look at the cat” or “Here’s Grandma”, they will look at the object or person you’ve mentioned.  

When they begin to use a word to show you something, your toddler is showing they can say the word and that they understand how they can use words to share an interest.  

How being able to say, “Look at this”, helps your toddler make friends 

Although your toddler isn’t actually saying, “Look at this” yet, when they say a single word to show you something, that is what they mean!  

Sharing an interest or idea is an important part of both language and social development.  

Your toddler is learning another way to make a connection with the people around them – one of the skills they’ll use in the future to make friends.  

When your toddler shows you something, try to respond with interest so you encourage them to do this again.  

We know sometimes this is hard when you’re busy, but if most of the time you can respond with interest, your toddler will learn they have ideas worth sharing!