YOUR QUESTION. A CLEARER NEXT STEP.
Working on Requesting and Commenting at Home
Build requesting by creating small reasons to ask — favourites out of reach, choices, helpful 'mistakes', and pausing fun. Build commenting by narrating side by side, showing wonder, reading together and adding one word. Accept every attempt and follow your child's lead.
In this answer 5 sections
Two of the most powerful little words in your child's day are "I want" and "Look!" — and your living room is the perfect place to grow both.
In short
Requesting (asking for what they want) and commenting (sharing something interesting) are the twin engines of early communication. You can build both at home, every day, with no special equipment — by setting up small moments where your child has a reason to ask, and by narrating the world together so they learn that talking is fun, not just functional. Little and often beats long and forced.
Everyday ways to grow Requesting
Requesting starts when your child wants something they cannot reach on their own.
- Put favourites in sight but out of reach — a snack on a high shelf, bubbles in your hand. Wait, look expectant, and respond to any attempt: a point, a sound, a word, or a gesture.
- Offer choices — "Apple or banana?" Hold both up. Even a look or reach is a request you can honour and name aloud.
- Be a helpful 'mistake-maker' — give a closed jar, a crayon with no paper, one shoe. These gentle obstacles invite your child to ask for help.
- Pause the fun — push the swing, then stop and wait. The pause becomes an invitation to ask for "more".
Everyday ways to grow Commenting
Commenting is sharing for the joy of it — no reward needed but your delighted face.
- Narrate side by side — "Big truck! It's so loud!" Talk about what your child is already looking at, not what you want them to look at.
- Show genuine wonder — point and say "Wow, look at the dog!" Sharing attention is the foundation.
- Read together — point to pictures and comment rather than quizzing: "The cat is sleeping," not "What's this?"
- Match and add one — if your child says "dog", you say "big dog". This keeps the bar reachable and shows the next step.
Keep it playful and follow your child's lead. Accept every attempt — sounds, signs, pointing and words all count as communication.
The Pinnacle way
These home strategies sit alongside, not instead of, professional guidance. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care — our speech therapy team can shape these requesting and commenting activities precisely to your child's stage and strengths.
Trusted sources
Guided by guidance from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association on early language and joint attention, and the CDC's developmental communication milestones, both of which emphasise responsive, play-based, everyday interaction.
Next step — message our team on WhatsApp at +91 91001 81181 to book an assessment and get a home plan tailored to your child.
This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
CONNECT THE ANSWER TO YOUR CHILD’S DAY
Something to notice. Something to discuss.
What to notice
Watch for whether your child communicates in any way — sound, gesture, point or word — to both ask AND share. If by 18–24 months there's little of either, or you notice loss of skills, arrange a developmental check rather than waiting.
In everyday life
Pick one daily routine — snack time — and create one tiny 'reason to ask': hold the snack, wait, look expectant, and joyfully respond to any attempt.
Bring your observations and questions to your child’s professional. Choose activities that suit your child’s comfort, abilities and agreed plan.
Bring your questions to a first visitQuestions families ask
What is the difference between requesting and commenting?
Requesting is asking for something your child wants — "more", "open", a point at a snack. Commenting is sharing something interesting just for the joy of it — "Look, a dog!" Both are vital, and commenting often needs more encouragement because there's no obvious reward beyond your shared delight.
My child only points or makes sounds, not words. Should I still respond?
Absolutely. Every point, gesture, look and sound is genuine communication. Respond warmly and add the word for them — if they point at juice, say "Juice! You want juice." This models the next step without pressure.
How long should these activities last?
Short and frequent works best — a few minutes woven into snacks, bath time, play and walks. Little and often, following your child's lead, beats long structured sessions.
FOLLOW THE SOURCE
References behind this answer.
- Source referenceASHA: How children develop speech and language
- Source referenceCDC: Developmental milestones
References are supplied with this answer. An organisation homepage offers further reading; it does not establish an independent review of this page.
Content attribution: SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network.
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