I Wanted My Son to Talk. First, I Had to Learn to Listen

What my experience with Ezra taught me about encouraging speech through everyday play, a bit of patience, and family connection.

About 8 years ago, if you mentioned words like speech therapy activities, language extension, or even expressive language, they would have seemed like the most foreign words to me; now, not so much.

When your toddler experiences a speech delay, you naturally start looking for answers. Is your child simply a late talker? Could it affect them long-term? And what can you actually do to help?

In my son Ezra’s case, it became personal.

I did question if my genetics played a role, whether his speech difficulties would continue as he grew older, and perhaps most importantly, could I genuinely help him as his father?

I wasn’t looking for someone to blame. I wanted to understand what was happening and what we could do about it.

Ezra is our responsibility. To me, that means more than providing for him. It means paying attention, asking questions, seeking help when necessary, and learning alongside him.

Through Ezra’s journey, I discovered the hard way that speech delay activities for toddlers don’t always require expensive toys or complicated lessons. Sometimes, everyday interactions offer wonderful opportunities to

Key Takeaways

• Everyday play, books, songs, and conversation turn small moments into chances to communicate.
• Pause and give your child time to respond. A gesture, sound, or glance counts, too.
• Toys and speech therapy apps can support interaction, but professional guidance matters.
• If your child misses developmental milestones, seek advice early.

Late Talker or Speech Delay? Let’s Talk About It

Children develop at different rates, but understanding developmental milestones helps us parents to recognise when additional support may be necessary.

Some toddlers understand what people say but struggle to express themselves. Others may struggle with receptive language, meaning they have difficulty understanding words or instructions.

Children at a natural stage in communication use gestures, babbling, or animal sounds before developing first words and eventually word combinations.

Being labelled a late talker doesn’t automatically explain anything; it’s more of an umbrella term without any specificity.

If you’re concerned about toddler speech, a speech-language pathologist (speech and language therapist) can assess communication skills. An audiologist may also check hearing.

For his mom and me, understanding Ezra’s needs mattered more than simple labels.

1. Building Blocks: Talk While They Build

Blocks do more than build towers. They give little hands and voices a reason to connect. Try parallel talk, which means describing what your child is doing.

“You’re stacking blocks.” “Big tower!” “Oh, it fell!”

Self-talk, narrating your own actions, is also a useful way to make expansive talk.

“I’m picking up the blue block.” ” I’m putting it on top.”

Using simpler natural language. If your toddler says “block,” expand it to “big block.”

You’re modelling language, giving them permission and confidence to communicate tomorrow.

2. Pretend Play: Let Their Imagination Lead

Pretend play was one of my favourite recommendations in the original article. A toy kitchen, a doll, or a few animal figures can turn playtime into a conversation.

If your toddler is running a pretend restaurant, offer a choice: “Would Teddy like milk or juice?” They can answer with a word, a point, or a gesture.

Playing with animals? Try a familiar sound: “What does the cow say?” Then moo along.

Keep it playful. Follow your child’s lead, and don’t turn every moment into a quiz. Teddy needs a meal, not a demanding restaurant manager.

3. Piece by Piece, Word by Word

Simple puzzles have a wonderful way of introducing children to colours, shapes, animals, and action words while stimulating brain activity and strengthening the connections involved in learning and language development.

Allow them to get into the flow of things instead of forcing them into two-word combinations. Let them feel the urge to say the word. As parents, our lack of patience gets in the way, and being forceful isn’t always the answer.

In time, they might attempt a word, make a sound, point, or simply reach for another piece. Whatever their response, acknowledge it.

4. Sing It, Shake It, Say It!

Who knew making a little noise could help encourage speech? Drums, shakers, and nursery rhymes introduce words like “loud,” “quiet,” “stop,” and “go” while keeping things fun.

Try pausing before the last word of a familiar song and give your toddler a chance to join in. Whether it’s a word, a sound, or a little dance, it all counts as participation.

5. Read Together: Make Books Great Again

There’s something special about sitting down with your toddler and a good picture book. You’re not just reading a story; you’re opening up a little world of words, pictures, and imagination.

And here’s the fun part: you don’t even have to follow the story! If your child points to a dog, run with it. “Big dog!” “Look, the puppy’s sleeping!” Let their curiosity lead the conversation.

Speak naturally, introduce simple words, and give them room to respond. And if they want the same book for the tenth night in a row, embrace it. Apparently, toddlers have no problem watching reruns!

6. Sensory Play: Explore and Describe

Who says learning new words has to happen at a table? Sometimes, a bowl of water, a few stacking cups, or a squishy ball is all you need to get things going.

As your toddler splashes, squeezes, and explores, join the fun. “Wet hands!” “Soft ball!” “More water?” Simple words spoken during play can help build language naturally.

Give them little choices, too. Do they want the red cup or the blue one? More water or all done? Even pointing or reaching is a way of communicating.

Just remember to supervise play and keep small choking hazards out of reach.

7. Turn-Taking and Peek-a-Boo

Sometimes, the best conversations happen without saying much at all. Peek-a-boo, rolling a ball across the floor, or making silly faces can teach your toddler something important: communication goes both ways.

Try saying “My turn!” and “Your turn!” as you play. Throw in an excited “Ready? Go!” and pause to see what happens next.

Your little one might laugh, reach for the ball, make a sound, or give you that cheeky smile that says, “Do it again, Dad!”

And don’t worry about forcing eye contact. What matters is that you’re enjoying the moment together and giving your child opportunities to respond.

8. Paper Origami: Small Folds With Ezra

One memory I’ll always treasure is making a little paper boat with Ezra at home. Nothing fancy, just some paper, a few folds, and a bit of imagination.

But that’s the beauty of simple activities. Every little step creates an opportunity to talk. “Fold here!” “Look, a boat!” “Think it’ll float?”

Even younger toddlers can join in by choosing colours, watching, or helping in their own little way.

Looking back, I don’t remember how many words Ezra said that day. What stays with me is the time we spent together, making something out of almost nothing.

9. Fresh Air, New Words, and Little Discoveries

I remember Ezra watching boats during an outing, observing his surroundings and counting things he noticed.

Those experiences remind me how much children can discover outside the house.

A walk, a visit to the park, or a family trip to the waterfront can create opportunities for communication.

“The boat is moving.”

“Two fish!…… Or in our case, we didn’t catch any fish that day.

“Can you hear the water?”I remember taking Ezra out one day and watching him become fascinated by the boats, the water, and everything happening around us.

He was observing, counting things he noticed, and taking it all in. Meanwhile, I was reminded that sometimes the world outside is the best classroom.

A simple walk through the park or a trip to the waterfront can open up so many opportunities for conversation. “Look, the boat’s moving!” “Two birds!” “Can you hear the water?”

You don’t have to describe every leaf, bird, or passing car. Just follow your child’s curiosity and talk about whatever catches their attention.

10. Technology Vs Toddler Talk

My original article featured ten speech therapy apps. But not every app supports the same communication needs. This is the more updated and specialised revised list.

Here are four worth exploring.

Speech Blubs: Uses videos and activities featuring children modelling speech sounds and words.

Articulation Station: Focuses on specific speech sounds and may be relevant when a therapist recommends articulation practice.

Splingo: Offers language and listening activities, including following instructions.

When I first explored speech therapy apps, I came across plenty of options. But here’s something worth knowing: not every app is designed to help children in the same way.

Some focus on speech sounds, others build listening skills, and some help children communicate in different ways altogether.

Here are four worth looking into:

• Speech Blubs: Uses videos of children demonstrating sounds and words, encouraging little ones to watch and imitate.
• Articulation Station: Focuses on practising specific speech sounds, particularly when recommended by a speech-language therapist.
• Splingo: Makes listening and following instructions more engaging through interactive activities.
• Proloquo2Go: A little different from the others. It’s an AAC app that helps people communicate using symbols and speech output, especially when spoken communication is difficult.

Now, before you hand over the tablet and expect a conversation by lunchtime, remember that these apps serve different purposes. The right choice depends on your child’s individual needs.

What About Screen Time?

Not all screen time is wasted time. The trick is making it interactive.

Sit with your toddler, talk about what appears on the screen, and give them time to respond. See a dog? Find their toy dog and bring the learning into real life.

Technology should encourage conversation, not replace it.

11. Gestures, Sign Language and First Words

Here’s something worth remembering: children start communicating long before they say their first words.

A little wave, a pointed finger, or reaching for a drink is their way of telling us something. If your toddler points towards water, try responding, “You want some water!” You’re acknowledging their message while introducing words naturally.

Simple signs and gestures can also help, and some children benefit from AAC tools suited to their needs.

Miles Apart, Still Helping Them Find Their Words

Parenting from afar means missing some of those little everyday moments. You can’t always be there to build the puzzles, read the bedtime stories, or celebrate every new discovery.

But distance doesn’t mean you can’t be part of your child’s language journey. Read together over video calls, sing silly songs, make animal noises, or ask them to show you their favourite toy.

And if they’re not in the mood to talk? That’s okay too. Sometimes, simply seeing your face and hearing your voice is plenty.