During the first five years of a child's life, they are learning to talk and are learning the basic patterns of speech that they will be using throughout the rest of their lives. You can help your toddler to talk by following these simple tips.

Communication and language for babies starts at birth. They first cry to express their needs. Soon they learn how to coo and then say sounds like "ba". Next comes their ability to say one or two words. Children naturally learn to speak by listening and imitating others so it is important to be a good example. As babies grow into toddlers and begin using more words, stop talking baby talk to them or using a high voice. There is also no need to speak slowly during normal conversation. Toddlers are going to be learning from you how to appropriately put sentences together and how to say words correctly.

Remember not to criticize them if a child pronounces a word incorrectly. Instead, repeat the sentence properly. For instance, if your child says, "Coo coo gone," you can say, "Yes, your cookie is all gone." Also, refrain from using their "baby language" to refer to everyday objects. If your child refers to a cookie as a "coo coo", remember not to also refer to the cookie in the same way. Use the word cookie with your child so that they can learn its proper name.

You can also encourage speech in your child by expanding on their sentences. Try repeating what your toddler says and adding to the phrase. For example, if your toddler says, "Pretty dog," you can say, "It is a pretty dog and he is nice, too." In addition, remember to really listen to your toddler. Look at them and really focus on what they are saying. Smile and encourage them to talk more by asking them questions which will expand their speech.

Teaching your toddler to talk can be fun by doing a couple of simple activities with them to encourage them to talk. Try recording their voice and then playing it back to them. Enjoy their reaction as they hear themselves and encourage them to say different things in order to record their voices again. You can also video tape them and allow them to watch themselves on television.

Speech can also be encouraged in everyday activities. When at the grocery store for example, when you are picking out your gallon of milk, tell your toddler that milk comes from cows and ask them what cows say. Encourage them to repeat the phrase, "Cows say, Moo."

Remember that every child develops language at their own pace. Don't compare children to try to figure out if they are on track with their speech. In addition, every child's speech is unique. By encouraging your toddler to talk and showing interest in what they say, you will soon notice that your toddler wants to talk more and more.

For detailed information on teaching toddlers to talk, please visit us on the web at Toddler to Preschool Activities page.

Jenny Esposito is the chief editor of Toddler to Preschool Activities.com http://www.toddlertopreschoolactivities.com/ an information rich site that offers teachers, parents, caregivers, etc. a resource for early childhood activities, games, songs, snacks, crafts and more.