Why is my 3 year old not talking in sentences?

I have often heard some parents complain that “my 3 year old doesn’t talk in sentences“. They get upset when they see other three-year-olds talking fluently with their parents. If you find yourself in such a situation, all hope is not lost, as your child may just be going through a phase that will wear off on its own shortly. While at it, it is good you get some knowledge on this problem and possible ways to manage and improve the situation for your child. That is what this blog post is about. 

Reasons why a 3 year old doesn’t talk in sentences

The following are possible reasons why your 3 year old doesn’t talk in sentences

1. Your 3-year-old could be experiencing speech delay. That is when your child’s speech does not develop as fast as other children’s. Your child will eventually make sentences in this case, but you must be more patient with them.

2. Your child could also be experiencing a problem called ankyloglossia or simply tongue-tie. This problem affects their mouth, pallet, or tongue. It makes it difficult for children to correctly pronounce some sounds leading to the inability to make complete sentences.

3. Hearing loss is another reason your child may not make complete sentences. If they find it difficult to hear the language, it will be impossible to voice it out.

4. Cognitive delay will also make it difficult for three-year-olds to talk in sentences. It affects the ability of children to understand and speak a language correctly.

5. Autism can make children not talk in sentences. It significantly slows down their mental development, which affects their speech. 

6. If your child has limited exposure to a language, they will find it challenging to develop the necessary skills to form sentences in that language, even as three-year-olds.

At what age should a child speak full sentences? 

A child should know how to compose meaningful sentences between the ages of two and three. However, from seven to twelve months, they would have been saying single words beginning mostly with “mummy” or “daddy.” It is important to note that these ages may only sometimes be so for some children. Some children develop faster than others. So some may talk and make complete sentences before the age of two, while others, for one reason or the other, may experience delay beyond the age of three. A child talking early or late can be due to environmental and physiological factors.

How to help a 3 year old to speak full sentences 

1. An effective way to help your 3-year-old speak complete sentences is to talk to them often. Converse with them like they already know how to communicate well. Ask them questions as you speak, and don’t worry if they don’t answer immediately. 

2. When you do your chores or any other activity, explain to them what you are doing. Move your hands and make necessary facial expressions to explain to them what you are doing. When things happen around you, talk to them about it in simple terms. 

3. When you go to the mall together, talk to them and ask them to help you choose the items to buy. All this will arouse their interest in things, and with time, they will learn how to express themselves better in words. 

4. Reading to your child is another way to overcome the problem of “my 3 year old doesn’t talk in sentences”. Read them story books and explain to them as you read. As you do this daily, they will understand how words are formed and will speak with time. Check out these two books from Amazon for your 3 year old. Ricky the rock that could not roll and Disney Micky Mouse

5. Repeat simple sentences to them often. That will also help them understand the way sentences are structured.

6. Encourage your child to repeat words and phrases after you. Do this daily, and it will help them quickly identify sentences. 

7. Play word and sentence games with your child daily. These will help them learn new words and practice speaking them. Such games include “I Spy” and “Simon Says.” 

8. Teach your child songs and encourage them to sing along. Songs comprise sentences; as your child sings along, they speak words and sentences.

Conclusion

Now you understand more about “my 3 year old doesn’t talk in sentences”. We hope this will help you to stop worrying more than you should. Remember, when your child says words they have not said before, encourage them by praising them. Please do the same when they answer your questions. That boosts their confidence to continue expressing themselves in words and sentences. You can also consult your pediatrician for advice and more professional assistance.