Today
16m 53s
What if your toddler understands far more than they can say—and they’ve been quietly learning from you since the day they were born?
In this episode I explain how toddlers develop receptive language (what they understand) long before they can fully express themselves and have been absorbing words, tone, body language, and environmental cues since birth. I emphasize that communication is a two-way, relational process—what adults express, children receive and interpret, and vice versa—so miscommunication can happen when meanings don’t align. The key takeaway is for caregivers to be intentional with their language, energy, and responses, and to celebrate toddlers when they demonstrate understanding, recognizing that early development is a long but powerful growing season.
Looking for intentional language scripts you can use with your toddler?
Check out my newest free gift to you:5 Things Your Toddler Needs to Hear You Say Everyday. Watch and listen as your child starts to respond differently to you.
March 3, 2026
Episode 313
A Girl and Her Dog: Why Toddlers Seem 'So Smart' Overnight - Little Linguists Series Part 6
About Your Host:
Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed. is a mom or three, early childhood author, parent educator, and founder of Core4Parenting. A former preschool and kindergarten teacher with degrees in ASL, Linguistics, and Education, she created the Collaborative Parenting Methodology™ to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand the power of intentional language in shaping a child’s identity, confidence, and future success.
As host of the top-ranking podcast Transforming the Toddler Years, Cara blends science and soul to show adults how to “talk to kids before they can talk back,” turning tantrums into teachable moments and everyday challenges into opportunities for connection. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Talk to Them Early and Often, a guide for raising emotionally intelligent kids who thrive in school and life.
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