Is your child labelling objects and saying one word at a time? Are they not yet putting words together to make phrases? If so, your child is using single-word utterances. I recommend practising a simple habit called expanding. It’s a quick, powerful way to help those single words grow into two-word phrases and beyond.
What is expanding?
When your child says one word, repeat that word and add one more word.
For example:
- Child: “bus”
- Adult: “red bus”
Keep it short and consistent. Just one extra word each time.
Which words should I use?
Parents ask this all the time. Aim for words from these three categories:
- Nouns (the thing): bus, car, dog
- Verbs (the action): drive/driving, go, spin
- Adjectives (the description): red, big, fast
So, if your child says “bus”, you could expand to:
- “red bus”
- “bus driving”
Choose the option that matches what your child is focused on.
For example, if your child is spinning the bus’s wheels (not pushing the bus), and they say “bus”, don’t say “bus driving”. Instead, try “bus wheels” or “wheels spinning.” This keeps your language tied to the child’s interest. They’re more likely to listen and learn that new phrase because it’s about their exact interest.
You might already be doing this, but check yourself anyway
If your child says “car” and you reply, “Yes, that’s a car, well done,” you’ve added quite a few words. That’s great for praise, but it isn’t the precise technique of expansion. The key is: repeat the child’s word and add one additional word.
What’s the point?
We want to acknowledge the child’s idea while nudging them just beyond their current level. It’s a concept called the Zone of Proximal Development. By adding one extra word, you show them the next step in language without overwhelming them. Small, consistent steps add up.
Bonus point: give silence
After you expand (repeat back and add one word), pause. Give your child a silent moment to process what you said.
They might repeat your phrase back, hooray! If they do, celebrate that attempt. If not, the pause still gives them the best chance to hear and learn from your language.
Expanding is a brilliant habit to practise in everyday play. Try it for a few minutes today. Repeat and add one word (expanding), then be quiet. Over time you’ll often see those single words start to grow into two-word phrases.
Check out my instagram video.
Check out the downloadable resource on Parent-Child Interaction Strategies.
