Feb 11 2025 7 mins
In this episode, Megan continues talking about communication in speech therapy for toddlers. Topics include: verbal communication, not verbal communication, and multimodal communication.
Megan dives into examples of non verbal communication, gives a verbal communication example, and explains why multimodal communication is typically most common.
Communication is the exchanging information between people through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.
Effective communication occurs when the intent and meaning of one person is understood by another.
Here are some tips to remember when it comes to toddler language development and communication:
- Presume competence. Just because a child doesn’t use spoken language does not mean they cannot communicate.
- Be mindful of a toddler’s body language, facial expressions, and use of gestures during an activity
- Offer opportunities for a child to communicate
- Acknowledge anytime a child attempts to communicate
- Honor all forms of communication
Determining how a toddler is trying to convey their message gives us a starting point for building functional communication.
If you’re looking for a way to determine how the little ones on your caseload communicate, check out my handbook: Communicate & Connect. You’ll find strategies for encouraging communication, handouts for helping parents understand the various ways their child communicates, and printables to help you keep track of a child’s communication.
If you found this episode helpful, share it with a friend!