Help My Baby Learn Community

Imitates 5-word sentences 30-36 months

Strategies

• Expand on what your toddler says by adding 1-2 words
  • i.e. He says: “Doggy running fast”
  • You respond: “The doggy is running fast”
• Add details to the picture being described in a book to help expand his sentence:
  • i.e. He says: “Yellow sun”
  • You respond: “Yellow sun in the sky”
• NOTE: Expanding his sentences will help him to learn more specific grammatical structure.
• Omit lines from favorite nursery rhymes and allow him to say/finish the line.
  • i.e. You say: “Twinkle twinkle little star.  How I wonder….”
  • He responds: “What you are”
• NOTE: If he omits some of the words, praise him and simply say all of the words to the line.  DO NOT tell him that he forgot some of the words and that he is wrong.
• NOTE: As your toddler’s sentences become longer, some of the words may “run together” and be difficult to understand.
• If this occurs, simply repeat what he said (if you know what he was trying to say)
• If you do not understand, do not become frustrated. Help him slow down or to speak in smaller sentences.
• DO NOT pretend you understood him if you did not. He is trying to tell you something that is important to him.