My 2 year old knows a few words but when we try new words she gets shy and doesnt want to try them. There hasn't seem to have been any development for 2 months now. I have tried books and reading. What else can I do?
Have you tried sign language? We had the same problem with our 2.5 yo, but the moment we introduced signs he really started talking. We would show him a simple sign, like banana and speak it while doing it. It also helped because we would ask him when he signed "What does this (repeat sign) mean?" He loved being "grown up" and telling us what it means. He also loved the attention he got from others, when they admired his communication skills.
You can do alot to encourage her, but you can't force anything. Some toys can encourage speech such as the fridge phonix by leap frog- it sings the alphabet song and tells the sound of each letter. Try to get her to repeat after you words you think she can say. Ask questions that require more than a yes or no answer.
If you think she is behind developmentally talk to your dr or county child development (birth to 3 program) to see what resources are available in your area.
My son has delayed development. Which means he is behind in his speech. I took him to his doctor and she referred him to the early childhood education program. They did some testing an he qualified, they thought he had Atisium spectrum. With farther test he did not, he does have an higher IQ because we were reading and working with him on his speech. He needed a different environment to learn in.
So I would contact your local Early childhood education program today. She my be able to get in next school year.
Where do you live??? -- Each school district provides service to children BIRTH to school age-- if there is a lag in development -- So ( as a retired teacher) - call your local elementary school--- and ask which birth to 3 program they work with. ( Right now, schools provide programs in the district for children 3 and up ---and the younger ones go to a birth to 3 program like Boyer Clinic in the Eastlake area )-- the school will tell you the program- you can call them and describe this -- and they'll likely make an appointment for an evaluation in case a bit of speech therapy NOW keeps her development from being an issue at school age --.
These services are high quality and free -- it's a little known service that could prevent SO much unhappiness in Kindergarden
Many blessings,
Judy
Keep Reading those stories; and keep talking. Keep teaching and showing her what things are... but maybe don't drill or ask her all the time... Each child learns and develops these skills when they are ready! DO NOT be afraid. 2 is still young, and she can learn. I have two boys,(4 & 16 months), and my older one didn't really start talking a lot until he was 3-3 1/2. He is in a two language household, which slows things up, but my heart attitude was never... why can't he talk... they can sense the pressure, maybe not want to mess up and make you sad , or not want to make a mistake... and so then he/she slows down. Also, an encouragement, try not to compare with others her age. I remember I often would say... "Wow, I can't believe how much she/he talks"-- and then I'd make a sly comment. They pick up on every thing! Also, I have heard of some kids who just paid attention to everything; and had to have everything understood about their world before they feel comfortable speaking.
Nowadays, he is talking up a storm and I can't seem to get him to be quiet.
Just keep reading! Showing her things... and learn her ques and her little terms. Decode what she wants or needs...
In another area of my life; I had put a lot of pressures on myself, my husband, and then my family. I wanted things to be in order and to have certain attitudes or responses. These attitudes impacted the way I responded, drilled, and questioned. Once I realized that I had these expectations... and I realized that they were good to have; but unrealistic expectations of my husband... I saw a need to let it go... I was able to take the pressure off of myself and my family... it was so freeing. Now I try to have a more realistic attitude and flexibility... and life is the way that it is here. I work with each day... and hope that I am helping, assisting, loving, respecting, and teaching and training my boys... and obeying the Lord.
If not, it will be okay.
Take Care,
Sarah
Praise and encouragement! A lot of times kids are of afraid of saying new words because they don't want to say it wrong and have you be upset or mad (and criticize them). My daughter is 28 months and usually when she says a new word, it might not sound right at first but if I can pick up what it is she is trying to saying I repeat it the correct way and tell her "good job" and that seems to encourage her to keep trying to say it without making her feel like she did it wrong. Don't worry though, it will all come together.
My twins didn't really start talking till they were a little over two. I was a little worried also. I called the early child intervention program in my area and they tested them and said they needed some help. I also put them in daycare two times a week. I would say that has been the biggest help. Personally I feel that the more that different people talk to my boys the better. For some reason, I can spend all week trying to teach them a word and then my brother will come over and he spends 10min with them and they get it. Just keep trying but I would also get them tested.
Good luck.
Wait it out -- neither of my girls were early talkers but both bloomed a bit around 3yrs old. We were really worried about my oldest to the point of having her evaluated. She grunted, pointed, and said a handful of things, all of which got her point across to us anyway, so she didn't have the need to use words. We are avid book readers and DD could from atleast 2yrs old point out lots of things in books (animals, colors, trucks.....) so she very clearly knew what things were just didn't "say" them. Now at 5yrs old we can't keep her quiet.
Our youngest will be 3 in January and she has just started talking like crazy. It was like a light switch was turned on in the past month and she is now in competition with her sister for who can talk the fastest.
Erica
Try teaching your child basic sign language. It worked for my little one. Once she saw she could talk with her hands, but it was faster to talk with her voice, well, now she is 12 and we cannot stop her.
Honestly sign language can be picked up easy, and takes away frustration.
Bev
www.SouthSoundDoula.com
Hi Amanda,
If her hearing has been checked, and is ok, give it some time before you panic. She is probably absorbing a lot. My parents told me I had a 6 word vocabulary until my sister began talking; then I burst out in complete sentances. (They complained that thereafter I would never shut up.)
If you've ruled out any underlying causes, then she is probably just doing things at her own pace. Keep up the books and reading. Talk to her as though she understands every word. (She probably does.) Though she isn't showing it yet, she is learning your words, and to speak as well as you do, including grammar.
Louise
I would say, just relax. I was just like you because I was so worried about my daughters development too. She really has a big vocab now at 2 1/2. I think every kid develops on their own time. As long as she can communicate and understand you, she is probably fine. You could find a speech therapist if you can't let it go. Check with her doc.
I don't think there's much you can do to get a child to talk. My son didn't say mama until just after his second birthday. Then he slowly picked up words all year until he had sentences. People kept telling me that I needed to force him to say words by withholding what he wanted, but that NEVER worked, it just made us both frustrated. I really feel that something clicks on in the brain when a child is ready to talk and it's useless to force something before that (sign language helped us a lot though). My son has always been a little behind in language and it will probably never be his strong point, but in every other way his totally normal (starting to read at 4). Good luck
I'm sure others have suggested this (don't have time to read the responses), but if you haven't talked to your pediatrician yet, you should. The school districts all have free screenings. I'd have her screened and then you can find out if she needs speech therapy or not. It's great that you are addressing this now! It is much easier to handle and the implications are less if it is taken care of early.
Good luck!
My son doesn't talk much either. He barely had 10 words at age 2 and the pediatrician said he should have 50. So, I called Encompass. They have a birth to three program that is free to any child that qualifies. The evaluation is free too. I told them my primary concern was speech, and they sent a speech therapist and an occupational therapist to check his fine motor skills. Because he showed a delay in speech & fine motor skills he qualified for the program and within a couple weeks we had an appointment with a speech therapist who came to our house every week for 50 minutes. So, they are located in North Bend, but have a large clientele base and I know they travel around the eastside. I know our particular therapist traveled to Woodinville & Duvall. Call them, or check them out at www.encompassnw.org
Good Luck!
Marcy
Amanda,
You can just relax. She will be fine. To me, 2 years old is too early to expect our kids to be talking, even though some of them are. My son will be 3 in 2 weeks and he has come on like a ball of fire in the past 9 months. He wasn't doing much at 2 either, and his dr had has go to speech therapy. He didn't like it; I didn't like it; so we stopped after about 5 weeks. What I started doing was talking to him all the time, about whatever we happened to be doing at the time, just so he could hear me. I knew he understood everything I was telling him because he would do the things I asked. So I would relax, just talk, talk, and talk some more to her. Even if you're just describing what you're doing. She'll be fine. We had decided to give my son until 3 and if he still wasn't talking, then we would be worried, but that didn't happen. So let her learn in her own way and be ready for when she won't stop. I still love hearing my son talk, even though I'm sure my husband is looking for an off button about now :o)
Hang in there.
Ruth (mom of 1 little fantastic light of my life)
Some children will not talk until they have complete sentences ready to say.
I had one of those. Also he would only talk to me. Until he was four. Everyone thought he was quite stupid..except me. That lasted until the fourth grade when he took the standardized test and tested in the 99th percentile. Everyone thought he cheated. As he progressed in school he was in the gifted programs and 3rd in graduating class. Ha!
I think you should back off on asking her to talk. Read, read, read, and talk, talk, talk, and take her to interesting places.
I say this as a K-1 teacher, and a parent.
Give her time. If she isn't talking by 3 take her to the local school and have her tested by the speech teacher there--yes they will do that for preschoolers.
Relax. If she doesn't have any trouble hearing, she is probably just a late talker. My son said about 15 words at age one, then he started trying to walk, and his vocabulary went to essentially Mama and Dada. By age two he was saying a handful of words again, but still not as many as I thought he should be saying. Suddenly, about two months after his second birthday he decided that he wanted to talk, and he started repeating everything and talking almost in full sentences overnight. He is now 2 years and 4 months and he does talk in full sentences. Family who haven't seen him since his birthday are astounded. My 11 year old was the same way, except that he decided to start talking at 18 months - but it was literally all at once. My little brother didn't talk until he was 3, because he would point and grunt and I would get him whatever he wanted. Keep reading and encouraging her. Talk to her pediatrician and ensure that there is nothing wrong with her hearing; then enjoy the "silence" because there is no stopping it once it starts.
just keep the repitition. she will eventually try it. one thing i have wanted to get but havent is called "my baby can read" there is a website for this. its videos flash cards and activities. its pricy which is why i havent yet but just watching these kids was awesome to me. every child develops at a different rate though. my daughter picked words up very quick and was singing songs by 2 but my son at 15 months only says a hand full of words and doesnt really care. just be patient yet persistant.
Like just about everyone else said, try not to worry. I know,easier said than done.
Bev Y was right, tho, sign language is a HUGE blessing. It gives the kids a chance to communicate and build sentence-building skills w/o speaking if they don't want to, or can't. There's a basic baby-oriented set by Joseph Garcia called Sign With Your Baby, but my husband and I learned it and I still use it haltingly when I deal with a hearing impaired person. When our son started speaking, he asked us how to sign words beyond our knowledge, so we got a sign dictionary that shows you how to do the motions. It really got him interested in the second language and communicating more complicated ideas.
Secondly, READ READ READ! It's great fun for them, and once they find a book they like, you can start picking out the common words for them to read in the sentences. We started w/ the first Curious George book. After he learned it by heart, I started making him read the name Curious George whenever he saw it, and then I started with articles like "a" "the", pronouns "he/she", and "and" "but" "or." Now he's unstoppable.
It'll all come together. Have faith! :-)