What to expect

At this age you may notice your toddler is more interested in writing, even though they might not be able to hold a crayon very well yet.

Your child’s vocabulary is continuing to increase.

You may notice that they are paying more attention to books that you read to them.

Parenting tips

You are the most important role model for your child’s language learning.

They love to copy what you do. When you sit down to read a magazine or book this shows them that reading can be fun.

When your toddler sees you write letters or lists, they will want to be able to write too.

Learning to write

Let your toddler play with a crayon to make marks on a sheet of paper.

Let them know that you really like how hard they are working at drawing or that you really like the color they are using.

Don’t ask questions about what the child has drawn. They may not be able to tell you. That is not the point of the activity

The goal is for your child to learn how to use a crayon at this age. Just comment on their efforts

Did you know that…

📙 Reading to your toddler increases the number of words they know and shows them “how” books are read. This special bond of reading together gives them a good feeling about books and reading.

📙 When your child says something, respond to them. If they ask a question, answer their question. Often, they will respond to your response. This is the beginning of true conversations.

What can you do?

Let them be creative!

Provide your toddler with paper, crayons and washable markers.Allow them to write and accept their scribbles as “pictures or words” just as you responded to their early cooing and babbling as “talking.”

Include their pictures and scribbled messages in cards to relatives or friends, so they will feel you value their “words.” Have a special place where you hang their work.

When you talk with your toddler stop to give them a chance to speak. Watch to see if they stop after talking to give you a turn.

Talk with your toddler often

Talk to your toddler about whatever you and they are doing. When your toddler hears you talk, they will learn how adults form sentences and develop better language.

Listen to your tone of voice when you talk. Does it usually sound happy and upbeat or do you sound upset and angry? You want your child to associate or connect talking with being happy and having fun. It is important that your child knows that you are delighted to be in their presence and that you are really interested in their ideas and find what they say or do is important.

Be careful if you sound upset or angry. Children this age don’t understand parents’ emotions and will become frightened. This could make them worry about talking more, because they don’t want to upset you.

Read and write with your toddler

Let them see you read. Children will learn that reading is a fun activity in your family. Set aside a quiet time when everyone in the family reads.

Read often to them. Set aside a special time each day for reading.

Let them see you write.Tell them the words you are writing when you make a list.

Updated by Nancy Schultz and Robert Nix, PhD., UW-Madison/Extension based on material written by Carol Ostergren, PhD and Dave Riley, PhD.

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