Help your toddler to talk

March 10, 2023

Your blind or partially sighted child may find it harder to see what’s going on around them. This may mean they are less motivated to communicate, so it may take your toddler a bit longer to learn to talk.

You’re probably already doing lots of things that can help them with language development. Things to try include:

tell them stories and sing nursery rhymes and songs
always use their name to show you’re talking to them
reduce background noise to make it easier for them to hear
give them time to answer
name things they touch when they are touching them, for example, when they are holding a ball say ‘ball’
talk about things you’re doing together
use the same phrases, for example, always say ‘cup’ rather than sometimes saying ‘beaker’
use ‘Mummy’ and ‘Daddy’ and people’s names rather than ‘he’ and ‘she’
explain how things work and where things belong

If you feel your toddler is having problems talking you can ask your health visitor for advice, or your child’s QTVI if they have one.

RSBC’s Family Support Service can help you with:

practical advice about your child’s development
support when you feel overwhelmed
understanding your child’s vision impairment better
living as a family and being supportive of each other

Call 0203 1980225 or email connections@rsbc.org.uk

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