When a toddler isn’t talking yet, or only has a few words, the best place to begin isn’t with labels—it’s with functional language. The kind that helps children say what they want or get your attention [without throwing something].
A lot of the children we work with understand plenty of words—they’re just not using them to get their needs met.
In early intervention speech and language, we focus on functional communication—words that serve a purpose in everyday life. Real progress begins when children learn to communicate with their parents and caregivers.
What is functional communication?
Functional communication is the ability to communicate in everyday life. It is about effectively communicating information in a way that the listener understands. Functional communication includes making requests, asking for help, or making a choice.
Functional communication isn’t just about using spoken language. It includes a child using gestures effectively to label or indicate a desired item or using other AAC to communicate.
What are functional words?
Functional vocabulary words are any words that a toddler can use to help them communicate effectively with others in their environment. These are words such as “more,” “stop,” “help,” “eat,” “all done,” or “go.”
When considering functional communication goals for the children on your caseload (or in your home), these are the words that are commonly used in the children’s daily lives. Functional vocabulary words are often chosen over less commonly used words, such as colors and shapes.
It’s also important to note that, for some children, functional vocabulary words will include specific items or types of food/drink because they are preferred items.
Why functional language?
This is my favorite question in early intervention speech and language!
A child who is able to label a few items but isn’t able to ask for help, more, or tell someone they’re done with an activity isn’t communicating functionally. Neither is the child who is using behaviors to get their message to others. The incredible opportunity of speech therapy for toddlers is in helping them learn to use communication effectively.
That’s why it’s important for us, the providers, to work together with families in creating a list of functional vocabulary words that will empower a child [and parents] to communicate and provide them opportunities to be effective in their message.
Functional communication skills also reduce frustration for the child and everyone around them.
Supporting Functional Language
Here are some practical strategies that you can get started with functional language in your sessions or at home!
- Model, Model, Model! Use functional vocabulary words all day in all activities and routines.
- Words like “all done,” “more,” and “help” can be used in various communication contexts and should be modeled to the child to show that.
- Keep it Simple: Use individual words “more”, “eat” or short phrases “all-done” “my turn” to help children process the language and imitate your actions or words.
- Choices: There is nothing more empowering than offering a child the opportunity to choose. It is a great way to build their confidence in communication.
- I recommend starting with 2-3 choices “do you want juice, milk, or water?”.
- Learning to make choices takes practice. At first, a child might not understand what you’re asking of them. To help with this, place the physical object in front of them and ask them to choose.
- Honor any indication they have made a choice.
- Sometimes this looks like pointing, reaching, or subtly looking at which one they want.
- Gestures & Visuals: raise your hand if you talk with your hands (me!)
- Apply this same concept when communicating with children.
- Pair the spoken word with a gesture, sign, or visual support to reinforce messaging.
The main goal in speech therapy for toddlers is functional communication. When a child learns to communicate with their parents and others around them, it changes their life.
Resources:
If you want ready-to-go visuals, communication boards, and printable handouts supporting functional communication, check out my handbook: Communicate & Connect. This handbook was designed specifically for early learners and communicators and the teams that support them!
