Top Speech Therapy Techniques for Toddlers

At Essential Speech and ABA Therapy, we know how precious every child’s first words are. For toddlers facing speech and language delays, early and innovative interventions are key to building the confidence and skills they need to communicate effectively.

Whether your child is on the autism spectrum, has a developmental delay, or simply needs a little extra help, our specialized techniques are designed to meet them where they are and help them thrive.

In this guide, we will walk you through speech therapy techniques for toddlers, paired with real-life examples, so you can feel empowered and informed every step of the way.

The Importance of Early Intervention in Speech Therapy

Between 18 months and 3 years, toddlers experience an explosion in language development. However, when speech delays occur, the earlier we intervene, the better the long-term outcomes.

At Essential Speech and ABA Therapy, we focus on providing comprehensive early intervention speech therapy for toddlers. Our evidence-based techniques not only target speech and language skills but also foster cognitive, social-emotional, and behavioral development.

Common signs your toddler may benefit from speech therapy:

• Limited vocabulary for their age (e.g., fewer than 50 words by age 2)

• Difficulty combining two or more words (e.g., “more juice” or “mommy help”)

• Trouble understanding simple instructions (“get your shoes”)

• Frustration due to communication breakdowns (tantrums, pointing instead of speaking)

• Limited use of gestures like pointing, waving, or nodding

Play-Based Speech Therapy: Turning Everyday Moments Into Learning Opportunities

How It Works: Play is a toddler’s natural way of learning. In our therapy sessions, we create play environments that encourage communication by incorporating speech goals into familiar routines and activities.

Practical Example:

If your child loves cars, our therapist might set up a toy car garage and model phrases like:

• “Go car!” (action words)

• “Big car” or “red car” (descriptive language)

• “Car up” and “car down” (spatial concepts)

The therapist will pause to give your child time to imitate, encouraging verbal attempts before continuing the game. This type of child-led play therapy fosters engagement and keeps your toddler motivated.

What parents can do at home:

• Narrate your child’s play (“The car is fast!”)

• Pause after statements to give your child a chance to respond

• Turn clean-up time into a language-rich activity (“Let’s put the blocks IN the box”)

Hanen’s "It Takes Two to Talk" Approach

How It Works: The Hanen Program is a parent-training model that teaches caregivers how to be their child’s most important communication partner.

In sessions:

Our therapists model how to:

• Observe: Watch what your child is interested in

• Wait: Give them space to initiate interaction

• Listen: Tune in to nonverbal and verbal attempts to communicate

• Respond: Expand on what your child says (“Ball” → “Yes! A big red ball!”)

What parents can do at home:

• During snack time, let your child request food rather than automatically giving it

• Use parallel talk (describe what your child is doing: “You’re stacking the blocks high!”)

• Match your language level to your child’s (if they use 1-2 words, model simple 2-3 word phrases)

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) for Early Communicators

How It Works: For toddlers with limited verbal output, AAC tools such as picture exchange communication systems (PECS), simple sign language, or speech-generating devices can bridge the gap and reduce frustration.

Example:

If your toddler struggles to say “juice,” we might teach them to:

• Hand you a picture card of juice

• Use the sign for “drink”

• Press a button on a simple speech device that says “juice”

AAC is often temporary and supports the development of verbal speech while giving your child immediate access to communication.

What parents can do at home:

• Use visuals for daily routines (e.g., morning schedule: potty → brush teeth → eat breakfast)

• Consistently pair AAC tools with spoken words (“You gave me the juice picture. Here’s your juice!”)

Sensory-Integrated Speech Therapy: Engaging the Whole Child

How It Works: Many toddlers with speech delays, especially those on the autism spectrum, experience sensory processing challenges. By combining speech therapy with sensory activities, we create sessions where children feel calm and ready to learn.

Example:

If a toddler is sensory-seeking, we might incorporate:

• Swinging while working on “go/stop”

• Sensory bins with sand or beans to encourage vocabulary like “dig,” “pour,” or “hide”

What parents can do at home:

• Create a mini sensory bin and practice action words (“scoop,” “pour,” “bury”)

• Use movement-based songs like “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” to build body part vocabulary

• Allow your toddler to play on a small trampoline while practicing “jump,” “up,” and “down”

Music-Based Speech Therapy: Using Rhythm to Boost Language

How It Works: Music is an engaging way to stimulate speech and language centers in the brain. We incorporate singing, clapping, and instrument play to help toddlers learn new sounds, words, and phrases.

Example:

• Nursery rhymes with predictable patterns like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” help with imitation and prosody.

• Instrument play (e.g., shaking maracas) while repeating simple words like “shake, shake, shake!”

• Chants (“Ready, set… GO!”) to build anticipation and participation

What parents can do at home:

• Create “fill-in-the-blank” moments during songs (“The wheels on the ___”) to encourage vocalization

• Clap out syllables in words (“ap-ple,” “ba-na-na”) to build phonological awareness

• Sing during everyday routines (“This is the way we brush our teeth”) to add structure and fun

Natural Environment Speech Therapy

How It Works: We believe in making therapy functional and relevant to your family’s routines. Our therapists often simulate or join in on real-life activities to help toddlers generalize their new skills beyond the clinic.

Example:

• Practicing language during a pretend grocery store activity (e.g., “apple,” “milk,” “bag”)

• Teaching requesting skills during snack time by presenting favorite and non-preferred foods to encourage choice-making (“Do you want grapes or crackers?”)

• Building social skills by role-playing playdates or family mealtime conversations

What parents can do at home:

• Let your child “help” during cooking by naming ingredients (“egg,” “stir,” “hot!”)

• Practice labeling while dressing (“sock on,” “shirt off,” “zip up”)

• During bath time, model action words like “pour,” “wash,” “splash”

Why Parents Trust Essential Speech and ABA Therapy

At Essential Speech and ABA Therapy, our collaborative team of Speech-Language Pathologists, Board Certified Behavior Analysts, and Occupational Therapists take a holistic approach to your child’s development. Our model goes beyond cookie-cutter techniques—we personalize each plan to your child’s strengths, interests, and specific needs.

We specialize in intensive, full-time services for toddlers 18 months to 6 years, with a focus on early intervention for children on the autism spectrum. By combining speech therapy, occupational therapy, and applied behavior analysis (ABA) under one roof, we ensure your child receives coordinated care that maximizes their progress.

Our Commitment to Families:

• Warm, supportive, and play-based environments that promote learning through joy

• Research-driven strategies tailored to each child

• Parent training and involvement every step of the way

• In-clinic services that foster faster skill acquisition and generalization

Start Your Child’s Journey to Stronger Communication Today

Your toddler has a story to tell, and we are here to help them share it with the world. Contact Essential Speech and ABA Therapy to schedule an assessment and discover how our innovative speech therapy programs for toddlers can make a lasting difference in your child’s life.