How to Teach a Nonverbal Child to Start Talking

5 Effective Strategies to Help Your Child Start Talking

I know you are ready to hear the 5 key tips to get a nonverbal child to start saying their first words. Remember, some children take longer than others for these strategies to work and keeping positive and consistent will help keep pressure low and success high. I often get asked is my approach and courses work for Gestalt Language Processors and the answer is yes! If you are wondering if these strategies work for Gestalt Language Processors, the answer is yes. So let’s get to it…

1. Assess the Whole Child

As I said, the first strategy I recommend is to take a holistic view of your child. This means looking at more than just their ability to speak. Does your child follow directions? Are there any feeding challenges? Are they potty trained? How about their social skills? These are all important pieces of the puzzle. It might sound overwhelming, but I developed the Barbera Early Childhood Assessment (BECA), a digital tool that can give you a snapshot of your child’s abilities in about 10 minutes. This assessment covers speech and language, as well as areas like behavior, feeding, and potty training, helping you gain a comprehensive understanding of where your child stands and where to focus. The assessment will also show you if the child has receptive language strengths, the ability to imitate, or to match! These are all important skills that go along with helping a nonverbal child to speak.

2. Focus on What Your Child is Already Saying

Once you’ve completed the assessment, it’s time to dive into your child’s current communication skills. Do they make any sounds or say any “pop-out words”—random words that they may say here and there but aren’t consistent? Many children who are labeled as “nonverbal” actually have a few words or sounds they use throughout the day, which is a great sign!

Use these sounds or words as a foundation for building further communication. Encourage echoic control, which simply means having your child repeat words or sounds after you. For example, if you say “ball,” your child can repeat it back to you. This back-and-forth repetition is a key part of typical language development. Try using my one word times 3 strategy through the day to build this skill. I have also created early learner programs within my online courses so you can become a pro at gaining echoic control, the key to unlocking the flood gates of language!

3. Avoid Focusing on Full Sentences Too Soon

A common mistake I see when helping children develop speech is an overemphasis on full sentences. For instance, phrases like “I want juice” or “That’s a ball” can be challenging for a child who is just starting to talk. Instead, focus on simpler, one- or two-syllable words that are motivating for your child, such as “up” or “juice.” This will help a child build clear speech that everyone around them can understand and help them recognize that their words have power and meaning. It’s also important to avoid pressuring your child to say things perfectly. If they say “pretzel” as “petzel,” or even just “p” don’t worry about correcting them right away. Instead, celebrate their effort and repeat the word clearly in a way they can mimic as you hand them the item.

4. Slow Down Your Speech and Highlight Key Words

One of the most effective strategies I recommend is slowing down your speech and emphasizing key words that your child is interested in or has said before. This is also known as my one word times 3 strategy. For example, if you’re about to give your child some juice, just say “juice” with enthusiasm. You don’t need to say “Do you want juice?” Instead, use that one word repeatedly—“juice, juice, juice”—to reinforce the connection between the word and the action. Be playful with your energy. This helps your child tune into the key words, making it easier for them to associate words with things in their environment. This technique of repeating and slowing down speech is simple, but it can lead to major breakthroughs in communication.

5. Use Simple, Engaging Materials Like a Shoe Box

The final strategy I recommend is using simple, everyday materials to build language understanding. One of my favorite tools is a shoe box. All you need is an adult-sized shoe box, a slit on the top, and some pictures or small toys that your child is familiar with.

You can make it even more engaging by saying the name of an object, like “banana,” three times as your child places it in the box. This simple act of labeling objects helps build a connection between the words and the items they represent, all while making the process fun and interactive.

Get a Nonverbal Child to Start Talking Conclusion

To recap, here are the five strategies I recommend for encouraging speech in nonverbal and speech-delayed children:

1. Assess the whole child, including behavior, feeding, potty training, and language.
2. Focus on what your child is already saying and use it as a foundation for further communication.
3. Avoid focusing on full sentences too early. Start with simple, motivating words.
4. Slow down your speech and emphasize key words to make it easier for your child to connect them to their actions and environment.
5. Use simple materials, like a shoe box and pictures, to reinforce language learning. Unsure how to do this program? Learn how.

Remember, language development takes time, so be patient and celebrate every small step forward. If you’d like to learn more about these strategies, join me for a free workshop where I share videos of me working with kids and provide more in-depth tips. By applying these proven techniques, you can help your child take their first steps toward effective communication. Together, we can make a big difference in their language development!