Receptive Language (Understanding)
Why can't my child do what I say?
There are several factors that may cause children to have difficulty understanding their parents. This may include:
- Hearing loss
- Delayed development
- Genetic conditions (e.g. Down Syndrome)
- Neurodevelopment differences (e.g. ADHD, Autism)
- Developmental language disorder
When will my child understand me?
By 12 months of age, children can usually understand 10 familiar words e.g., mummy, ball, bird, respond to their name and make eye contact
By 18 months of age, children can usually follow simple instructions e.g., 'throw the ball' and point to familiar objects and pictures in books
By 24 months of age, children can follow 2 step instructions (e.g., give me the ball and the car), point to body parts and respond to simple questions like, "what" and "where"
How can I help my child to understand me?
There are many strategies that can help your child understand you. These include:
- Reduce or eliminate background noise when talking with your child.
- Say your child's name to get their attention before you start having a conversation
- Speak slowly and clearly when engaging in conversation with your child.
- Use simple language when communicating with your child. Keep your sentences short and clear to ensure that your message is easily understood.
- Use your body language, like gestures and signs, along with your words to communicate with your child.
- Use visual aids to help your child understand what you're talking about. For example, when you ask your child if they want cereal, show them the actual cereal box while asking the question.
- Repeat important information to help your child remember it.