Hang on a Second: 3 Steps to Get Your Toddler Talking With Wind Up Toys
It can feel overwhelming to know where to start when helping your little one to talk. One of our favorite toys to offer when helping a child understand the power of gestures, words, and sign language are wind up toys.
Read on to learn how you can use these tiny toys to help your child to communicate.
Use The Magic of Waiting
First show your child how great the wind up toy is. Wind it up and let it go, and enjoy the fun together.
Then send in the “Magic Pause”.
What we mean by that is…look at your child as if to say “ball (or wind up toy) is in your court”. Smile at them, with big, wide eyes, maybe put your hand out, and also WAIT.
The magic of waiting is that you are showing your child it is their turn! They get to be in control of what happens next. We suggest actually counting silently in your head to 5, maybe even 10 seconds. It’s a long time, but so worth it.
You are waiting for your child to fill in your pause with words like “go” or “help” or “more”. Immediately after you hear your child attempt* a word, you let the wind up toy do it’s thing.
**A word on word attempts. If your child says “ma” for “more” or “pep” for “help” that definitely counts as the word. It takes hundreds, if not thousands of motor movement attempts before accurately saying a word when you are a toddler. Now is not the time to expect perfect speech.
2. Model, Model, Model
Sometimes, children might not yet have the words or be using the words that you are waiting for. In these instances, your role becomes even more important. If your little one doesn't spontaneously say the magic words, it's your opportunity to model the word you are waiting for. Say the word they're thinking, whether it's “more”, "go" or "help," and then send the wind-up toy on its way.
3. Use Gestures
Language development isn't just about verbal communication. You can take this moment to introduce signs like “more”, "go" or "help." Sign language is a fantastic way to bridge the communication gap, allowing your child to express themselves if they aren’t using verbal language yet. Not only does sign language enhance language development, it helps children learn the power of words.
As you engage in this playful and interactive process with wind-up toys, you're not just providing entertainment; you're supporting your child's language development in a fun and engaging way. It's a beautiful example of how everyday moments can be transformed into meaningful learning experiences.
That’s it for now, until next time fam!
