Help your child learn to tell you what they need with their movements, sounds, and facial expressions. You can do this by watching, interpreting, and responding to them.

Watch all your child’s communication signals, including subtle movements, sounds, facial expressions, and eye movements.

Pay close attention to your child to understand what they need or are interested in. Get face to face. Look at their eyes and movements and listen to their sounds. You might see and hear your child:

• turn away or show a neutral face to express disinterest
• look towards something they’re interested in
• widen their eyes when startled or scared
• coo, bounce, and squeal to show they’re happy
• arch their back to show discomfort
• use loud vocalizations or screams to express dislike

Recognize your child’s signals and use them to interpret what they’re trying to tell you.

Respond by using single words and simple sentences with gestures, actions, or a communication tool. When you respond, it shows that you’re listening and encourages them to communicate more.

For example, if you see your child turning their head and smacking their lips, you can:

• Recognize their message by copying them. Smack your lips and say, “You’re smacking your lips.”
• Interpret their movement. Say, “I wonder if you’re hungry. Hungry.”
• Respond. Offer your child food.

Help your child understand language by talking to them throughout the day. Talk about what you’re doing and what’s happening around them. If your child has complex medical needs, talk to them while you attend to their medical needs.

• Start by getting face to face with your child. Position yourself so that you are at your child’s level.
• Tell them what you’re going to do before you do it. Say, “Time for a suction.” Or, “Let’s change your diaper.”
• Talk about what’s happening. Say, “Mom’s home.” Or, “Your chair is tilting back.”
• Describe what you’re doing during care. Say, “I’m laying you down on your back.” Or, “I’m wiping your nose.”

Whenever you talk to your child make your language SOAR.

• Slow: Talk slowly and pause often. Your child may need extra time to understand and respond.
• Offer visuals: Add actions, pointing, gestures, signs, objects, pictures, or other communication tools when you talk.
• Animate: Talk with expression, emphasize words, and use sound effects.
• Repeat: Repeat important words and phrases.

Even though your child may not understand everything you say, they’ll benefit from hearing you talk, repeat words, and the expression in your voice.

Make playtime enjoyable and meaningful to help your child learn language.

• Play games without toys, like Peek-a-Boo, tickling, swinging in a blanket, or flying like an airplane.
• Encourage your child to copy simple actions like shaking or banging objects or mimicking sounds.
• Use activities with different textures, sounds, and lights for sensory play.
• Sing songs and rhymes. Go slow, use gestures, and repeat songs often.
• Read books. Talk about the pictures or tell stories.

Make it easy for your child to participate in play so that they can focus on communication more easily.

• Engage in play your child enjoys. For example, shaking, banging, and dumping toys, building or pushing cars. Play games that you played as a child or that are important in your culture.
• Make sure your child is comfortable and in a supported position. Provide toys and objects that are light and easy to grasp.
• Adapt activities to fit your child’s physical abilities. For example, your child may have a stronger side or may be more mobile with their hands or feet.
• Create activities that match your child’s sensory preferences. Are they sensitive to bright lights or loud sounds? Do they seek out movement or touch? Children with low vision may benefit from dim lights and high-contrast books. If your child has a hearing impairment, stay close and reduce background noise.

Children need back-and-forth turns to learn and practice communication skills. Get face to face with your child and encourage turn-taking during care, daily routines, and play. Remember, your child’s turn might be a subtle movement or a sound.

• Pause and wait. Give your child time to respond after your turn. Show interest while waiting. Children with complex communication needs may take longer to take their turn.
• Play simple games, like rolling a ball back and forth.
• Use verbal cues. Say, “my turn” and “your turn” to help them understand.
• Model behavior by joining in play and taking turns yourself.

Try using these strategies to help your child with complex communication needs build their communication skills. If you need more help, reach out to a speech-language pathologist.