Supporting Oral Language in Infants and Toddlers

From a baby’s very first cry to the endless “why, why, why?” of toddlers, language is how children connect with the world. It’s more than just talking—it’s about expressing feelings, making friends, sharing ideas, and understanding others. Strong oral language skills build confidence, support emotional wellbeing, and lay the groundwork for learning to read and write later on.

Why Little Conversations Matter

Research shows that the more words a child hears, the richer their vocabulary and language skills become. One well-known study found children benefit from hearing around 20,000 words a day (Hart & Risley, 1995). That might sound like a lot, but it’s simply about narrating life as it happens—talking while you’re cooking dinner, singing in the car, chatting as you change a nappy or hang out the washing. It all adds up, and it all counts.

How Language Develops

Language development starts long before your child says their first word. Babies are born ready to listen and respond, and those early coos, babbles, and gestures are already laying the foundations for speech. Even chewing has a role to play—chewing a variety of textures strengthens the muscles of the tongue and jaw, which are needed for clear speech sounds later (Steeve & Moore, 2010).

(If you’ve read our Why is my child a picky eater? blog, you’ll know food exploration is about much more than nutrition—it supports oral development too!)

Experts like the Hanen Centre describe early language development in stages. First, infants are discoverers, realising their cries and coos get a response. Then they become communicators, using eye contact, gestures, and sounds to interact. The first word users emerge, followed by combiners, who join words together (“more milk”), and early sentence users (“I want to go outside”). By preschool, children are late sentence users, asking lots of questions and telling their own stories. Every child moves through these stages at their own pace, and bilingual children often follow a slightly different rhythm—but that’s not a delay, it’s a strength.

Why Talking Back (Even to Babbles) Works

Language learning is powered by what researchers call “serve and return.” When a baby makes a sound or a toddler gestures towards something, and we respond, it creates a back-and-forth conversation—even if the “words” are just coos and smiles. These little interactions are powerful; they build brain connections, deepen relationships, and give children the confidence to keep communicating.

This is why everyday talking is so important. Describe what you’re doing: “We’re putting on your blue socks—one sock, two socks.” Respond to their babbles with interest, like you’re having a real conversation (because you are!). Sing songs, read books, tell silly rhymes, and give them your full attention when they talk to you. If you’ve read our Why does my child cry at drop-off? blog, you’ll remember how connection builds trust—language works the same way.

What We Do at Te Ōki

At Te Ōki, language development is part of everything we do. Teachers talk to infants and toddlers throughout their day, using rich, descriptive language during routines and play. We listen closely to children’s cues, respond to every sound and gesture, and create environments full of books, songs, and conversations. We also think about food as a language tool—offering safe, age-appropriate textures to help build the muscles needed for speech.

We model new words, use te reo Māori and English throughout the day, and encourage children to share their voices in whichever language they feel most comfortable. Most importantly, we take time to listen.

"Feeling heard is the first step to feeling confident to speak."

How You Can Help at Home

The best thing you can do for your child’s language development is to simply spend time talking with them. Tell them what you’re doing, ask questions, read books every day, and sing songs together. If your child says “car,” you might respond with, “Yes, a red car is driving fast!” This shows them their words are valuable and encourages them to keep trying.

Even mealtimes can be opportunities for language learning. Sitting together, talking about the food, and describing what’s happening builds vocabulary and social skills. (Check out our Why is my child a picky eater? post for tips on creating positive mealtime routines that encourage conversation too.)

When to Seek Support

All children develop at their own pace, but it’s a good idea to seek advice if your child isn’t babbling by 12 months, doesn’t have any words by 18 months, has fewer than 50 words by age two, doesn’t respond to their name, or has lost skills they previously had.

Support is available locally through your Well Child Tamariki Ora nurse, Plunket, your GP, or a speech-language therapist. We can help with identifying delays and referrals too. The Ministry of Education also provides free speech-language therapy for eligible children.

Final Thoughts

Oral language is about so much more than talking—it’s about connection, curiosity, and confidence. Every conversation, song, and story builds your child’s brain and sense of self. At Te Ōki, we feel privileged to support these early communication skills every day, creating rich, language-filled environments where children’s voices can grow.