Talk by 2 and Beyond!

What you say and do helps a child communicate with you

Talk by 2 and Beyond! is an early identification and prevention strategy based on recent pediatric studies. Early identification makes a difference, it is the key to a child’s best start in life and is crucial to their life success. At First Words, early identification of speech and language delays as well as promotion of good language building strategies are important.

Act early!

You know your child best. You talk and listen to your child more than anyone else. If you think your child has any kind of speech or language problem, you can:

Call Ottawa Public Health at 613-PARENTS

Think "E-I-E-I-O" to communicate with your child

Helping children learn to talk is as easy as E-I-E-I-O. These simple rules are a great way to get children on the right path to healthy speech and language development!

Explore together!

  • Be face-to-face when you play, sing, read and talk.
  • Name and describe things you see and actions you do together.
  • Repeat words often: "dress ON, socks ON, shoes ON."

Imitate and Interpret.

  • Copy what your child does and says all day long, every day.
  • When your child points, smiles. makes sounds or uses words, say what you think they mean.

Expand and Extend.

  • Expand on what your child says by adding 1 or 2 words. If they say "tat," you say "big cat."
  • Extend with a new idea. If they say "tat," you say "that big cat is purring."

Include Choices

  • Use simple questions instead of Yes or No questions: " Would you like to share the toy horse or the toy train?"

Observe, Wait and Follow your child's lead. 

  • Take turns listening and talking. 
  • Watch, wait and get interested in your child. 
  • Let him take the lead when playing, reading and talking together.

Know the signs!

Use the First Words milestones
to see how a child is doing.
Speech and Language Milestones
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