How to Encourage Your Toddler to Talk: The OWL Strategy
Parents often want to know what they can do at home to encourage their child to communicate. One simple, research-based strategy used in speech pathology is called OWL: Observe, Wait and Listen.
OWL encourages parents and caregivers to step back, give their child time and notice the many different ways they may try to communicate.
In the video below, Grow & Tell Speech Pathologist Jules Tushuizen explains the OWL strategy and how it can be used during everyday interactions with young children.
What Is the OWL Strategy?
OWL stands for Observe, Wait and Listen and is a strategy associated with the Hanen approach to supporting children's communication development.
The idea is surprisingly simple: rather than immediately talking, asking questions or directing your child's play, you take a step back and give your child an opportunity to lead the interaction.
This can be particularly useful when supporting young children and children receiving early intervention.
O – Observe
The first step is to observe your child.
Get down to your child's level and watch what they choose to do without immediately trying to direct their play.
They might pick up a toy, explore something in the room, look through your handbag or become fascinated by something completely unexpected.
Instead of redirecting them towards what you think they should be doing, watch carefully.
What are they interested in? What are they looking at? How are they playing? Are they trying to involve you?
Observing gives you valuable information about your child's interests and how they naturally communicate.
W – Wait
Next, wait.
This can be one of the hardest parts for adults, particularly if you're naturally someone who likes to talk, ask questions or become involved in your child's play.
Rather than immediately saying things such as “What's that?”, “Look at my keys!” or “What toy is that?”, pause and give your child time.
The silence can initially feel uncomfortable, but that pause creates an opportunity for your child to initiate an interaction rather than always responding to an adult.
Jules sometimes suggests that parents use a timer on their phone or even physically rest their chin on their hand as a reminder to wait rather than immediately jumping in.
L – Listen
Finally, listen.
Listening doesn't only mean waiting for your child to say a word.
Children communicate in many different ways. Depending on your child, they might:
make a sound or say a word
use a sign or AAC
point towards something
look at you and then back at an object
bring a toy over to you
smile or use another facial expression
use gestures or body language
These can all be meaningful attempts to initiate or continue an interaction.
By waiting and listening, you're giving your child the opportunity to show you how they want to communicate.
Why Can OWL Help Communication?
When we're trying to help a child talk, our natural instinct can be to do more talking ourselves.
We might ask lots of questions, name everything around them or encourage them to repeat words.
But communication involves taking turns.
Observe, Wait and Listen creates space within the interaction for the child to take their turn and initiate communication.
It can also help parents notice subtle communication attempts they may otherwise have missed.
OWL Isn't Just About Spoken Words
An important part of Jules' explanation is that communication doesn't need to be spoken.
A child may communicate through speech, signs, gestures, facial expressions or an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system.
For example, your child might look at a toy, look back at you and then smile. They may not have said anything, but they have still created an opportunity for a shared interaction.
Recognising and responding to these attempts can help encourage further communication.
What If Waiting Feels Uncomfortable?
That's completely understandable.
If you're used to filling silences or directing your child's play, deliberately waiting can feel unusual at first.
Try starting with short periods.
Sit at your child's level, observe what they're doing and resist the urge to immediately ask a question or make a comment.
Give them an opportunity to do something first.
As Jules explains in the video, some parents find using a timer helpful while they're learning the strategy.
Using OWL at Home
One of the advantages of OWL is that you don't need special equipment or a formal therapy activity.
You can practise Observe, Wait and Listen during normal everyday interactions such as playing with toys, reading books, getting dressed, eating together or playing outside.
The important part is allowing your child's interests and communication attempts to guide the interaction.
When Should I Speak to a Speech Pathologist?
OWL is a useful strategy for encouraging communication, but it doesn't replace an individual assessment if you're concerned about your child's development.
If your child is late to start talking, isn't progressing with their communication or you're unsure whether their speech and language skills are developing as expected, a paediatric speech pathologist can help.
A speech pathologist can assess your child's communication development and provide individualised strategies for both your child and family.
Speech Pathology for Young Children
At Grow & Tell, our paediatric speech pathologists work with children and families to support speech, language and communication development.
Parent coaching and strategies that can be incorporated into everyday routines can be an important part of therapy, particularly for younger children.
You can learn more about our Speech Pathology services, meet our paediatric Speech Pathologists, or find out about Telehealth Speech Pathology if attending one of our Sydney clinics isn't practical.
