Like most new parents, I found myself reading everything I could about raising a child—especially when it came to speech and vocabulary. Everywhere I looked, the advice was the same: talk, talk, and talk some more.
I didn’t start particularly early. I do remember occasionally talking to my tummy and playing music during pregnancy (and yes, feeling those little kicks!), but I was never quite sure how much of that really mattered.
What I do know is this: I had a very talkative toddler.
She had a very short phase of baby gibberish and, quite quickly, began naming things, forming small sentences, and expressing her thoughts clearly—by around 14–15 months. Considering that both my husband and I weren’t particularly talkative people, this used to surprise us.
Looking back, here are a few things we did—some intentionally, many without even realising—that may have helped.
1. We talked through everything (right
from the start)
From her earliest days, we made it a habit to talk to her constantly.
I still remember singing little songs during feeding sessions when she was just a month old. As she started solids, we would name everything on her plate—rice, rasam, vegetables, curd, dosa, chapati. Every single item.
We also tried to give her small choices.
If she pointed to something, I would respond with,
“Do you want rice?”—and then follow through.
Over time, she didn’t just recognise foods—she developed preferences. She would confidently ask for her favourites (ghee being a top contender!) and even identify vegetables she enjoyed.
2. We turned everyday moments into learning opportunities
During her crawling phase, I would often take her to the balcony during mealtimes.
What started as a simple feeding routine became a daily learning session.
We would point out everything around us—cars, buses, dogs, birds, flowers. I would describe the weather, the movement of trees, the feeling of the wind.
Somehow, she picked up on all of it.
She began noticing and expressing whether it was sunny, cloudy, windy, or raining—and would even break into her favourite rain song when it poured.
3. We involved her in daily life
Like many parents, I initially tried to finish all my chores while she napped. That quickly became unrealistic.
So instead, I started including her in my day.
Cooking, cleaning, folding clothes, charging devices—I would simply talk through what I was doing while she watched or “helped.”
Even small things—like telling her I’d be back in a minute—became part of our communication.
What surprised us most was how much she understood.
She would:
- Pick up tiny bits of dust and place them near the bin
- Hand me clothes to fold
- Put her own clothes into the laundry basket
- Recognise whose phone was ringing and bring it to the right person
Of course, she also had her share of toddler moments and demanded attention—but the understanding was clearly there.
4. We stayed present—even with screen time
We tried to avoid screens as much as possible, especially since it’s recommended to limit screen time under two years.
But like many families, there were moments when it helped—especially during mealtimes.
The one thing we were mindful about: she was never passively watching alone.
We stayed with her—singing along, describing what was happening, and interacting with the content.
Even outside screen time, we would repeat rhymes during daily routines—feeding, bathing, playing.
5. We used rhymes, repetition, and association
This turned out to be one of the most effective tools for us.
We began associating everyday things with rhymes.
See a dog? Sing a rhyme about a dog.
Spot something familiar? Connect it to a song she knew.
Over time, she started making those connections herself.
She would often link what she saw to a rhyme and sing it out. It became her way of processing the world—and it was amazing to watch.
We also noticed that when we paused mid-rhyme, she would jump in to complete it. Gradually, she began reciting entire rhymes on her own.
She could:
- Recite multiple rhymes
- Count from 1 to 10
- Identify a wide range of animals (not just the usual cat and dog)
For a child under 1.5 years, it felt like a big milestone.
6. We skipped the baby talk
This was something we were quite consistent about.
We mostly used real words—water was water, milk was milk.
We spoke to her like we would to any other person, primarily in our mother tongue, while also introducing English.
We also gently corrected her when needed—whether it was pronunciation or naming something incorrectly.
Over time, she began picking up words quickly, making her best guesses when unsure—and often getting surprisingly close.
7. We encouraged, but didn’t pressure
Every child is different.
They grow, learn, and communicate at their own pace.
This was simply what worked for us—not a rulebook, not a formula.
But looking back, it’s clear that the small, consistent efforts we made in our everyday life had an impact.
The little moments that made it all worth it
Back then, she understood so much, expressed herself so clearly, and continued to surprise us every single day.
And in between all the routines, chores, and chaos—it was those tiny conversations, unexpected words, and joyful expressions that made the journey so incredibly rewarding.
Watching her find her voice was easily one of the most beautiful parts of parenting.
And now… at 11
Today, she is 11.
And that little toddler who once pointed at everything and tried to name the world around her… now has thoughts, opinions, stories, and questions that amaze us in completely different ways.
She still talks—a lot. But more than that, she expresses, reasons, argues, laughs, and connects.
Sometimes, in the middle of a conversation with her now, I catch a glimpse of that tiny version of her—standing on the balcony, pointing at the sky, trying to find the right word.
And it makes me pause.
Because somewhere along the way, all those small, ordinary moments—naming things, singing songs, talking through the day—quietly became something much bigger.
They became connection.
– The Mother Duck Says 🦆
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