I recently received the following question from one of my readers: I have a question about my just about 22 month old. He is very active and smart. He can figure out how to take anything apart and put it back together. He loves to be busy. A few people have commented he should be "saying more." I don't agree, but then again I'm no expert. He can talk and has always been vocal. He will bring things to me (or bring me to things!) point and say help and nod. He will ask for his needs. He asks me for his water, snack, relax (when he's sleepy.) He can communicate what he wants very well. He doesn't have melt downs, because he knows how to tell me what he wants. With all that said, he says only a handful of words. Snack, water, help, dog, go play, home, yes, no. He has started to make noises when he's playing...quacking like his ducks and making a car sound with his trucks. I have heard he's not saying enough often enough, to become a bit concerned. I was never concerned before, because he really communicates awesomely and comprehends what we ask him and does it right away. My question, is should I be worried? He has his 2 year check up in a couple months. It can be disconcerting and a bit confusing when well-meaning family members and friends bring up concerns about your child that you don't share. What's more, young children are highly varied in all areas of development and so it can be hard to know exactly what your child should be really be doing and when you should be worried enough to talk to your pediatrician. Although I obviously can't evaluate a child without seeing him in person, I can certainly provide some guidance about when I would typically suggest a referral for an evaluation and how I would help parents of toddlers determine if speech and language intervention was needed. First, the easy answer: if a child reaches 24 months and isn't yet using 50 words and/or isn't yet putting two words together into short phrases (e.g., more juice, bye mama), we do typically recommend that they talk to their pediatrician about an evaluation by a speech-language pathologist. That, however, isn't the full answer (life is never that easy, right?). When I evaluate young toddlers who aren't yet speaking as much as we'd expect, I don't just look at how many words they are saying. While that is an important piece of the puzzle, there are many more pieces to the full picture. I also look at what that child understands, how he is communicating with gestures and facial expressions, how he is using the words he does have, what kinds of sounds he is using, and how he is playing. Looking at each of these areas helps me to determine if a child is "just" a late talker or if there are bigger concerns that need to be addressed. What would I look for in each of those areas? While I can't detail every skill that I would look at in an actual evaluation, I can certainly paint a broad picture of what we would hope to see in a young toddler. At 24 months, I'd want to ensure that the child could follow a wide variety of directions, find objects when mom and dad ask him to do so, point to pictures in a book, show off some body parts when they were named, and follow silly directions like "put a cup on your head." I'd also look to make sure that the child was using gestures; by 24 months I'd expect to see him nodding and shaking his head no, pointing at things that he wants, waving "hi" and "goodbye", and clapping with delight. Very importantly, I'd also want to make sure that he is pointing at things that are interesting to him, just to get his mom and dad to look at those things (not just to ask for those things). This is a skill that emerges around 12-18 months, and it's important to ensure that a child is using it. I also like to see that children are showing objects of interest to their parents on a regular basis. And I'd ask the child's parents if he enjoyed playing simple games like "Pat-a-cake" or "Peek-a-boo" with them. Then I'd take a peek at what the child was doing in play. At 24 months, we like to see children starting to use pretend play in some very simple ways. They might, for example, give a bottle to a baby. Or they might feed a stuffed bear with a spoon. Kids this age also play simple rolling or fetching games with balls with their mom and dad and should be starting to imitate housework (my 19 month old daughter, for example, is currently enthralled with wiping up the floor with paper towel. Who needs toys when you've got paper towel?). I'd also want to see that the child was imitating actions: Will he clap when an adult does? Does he imitate stacking blocks? Will he imitate his parents if they do something silly and unexpected, like place a block on top of their head? Then I'd listen to the sounds the child was making. At 24 months, I like to see children using a variety of sounds such as p,b,m,n,t,d,h, and w, and I hope to see that child using those sounds in a variety of words. I'd also want to know that the child uses his voice to get attention, that he vocalizes often throughout the day, that he babbled often as a baby, and that he uses his voice in a way that sounds like he's having a conversation, even if there are no real words involved in that conversation. Finally, I'd talk to the parents about hearing. I'd ask if they had any concerns with hearing and might also encourage them to talk to their pediatrician about doing a hearing test to rule out a hearing loss. Some kids can hear some sounds but not others. If a child has a language delay, we usually recommend a hearing evaluation just to make sure the child is really hearing everything. What if the child was doing all those things I just described but still wasn't talking as much as we'd expect? Then he'd be what we call a "late talker" (such a professional term, eh?). The benefit of getting an evaluation for a "late talker" is that parents get to have a professional speech-language therapist look specifically at all those areas and help them to figure out what's really going on. If nothing else, this can ease a parent's mind. The speech-language therapist can also give parents some simple suggestions that can be woven into their day to increase the odds that their child will start using more words. A really good speech-language therapist will shed light on what comes next in child development and help parents figure out how they can get their child to that next level. Having said all this, though, opinions are mixed about whether or not speech therapy is truly needed for children who are just late talkers. Some studies seem to indicate that as long as late talkers are in supportive, nurturing, and responsive families, they will catch up on their own. Other studies suggest that late talkers can potentially have lingering difficulty with reading and spelling when they enter elementary school. My advice for parents of late talkers? Have a good conversation with your pediatrician about your concerns and ask your pediatrician to help you weigh your options. Then, listen to your own inner parenting voice to make the final call about what to do. You know your child best. Trust yourself. The other piece of good news is that there are lots and lots of strategies that all parents can use in the context of their typical day to help their children develop language, whether or not their child is a late talker. Check out these to get you started: Three Magic Words Monkey See Monkey Do Moo Baa La: Animal Sounds and Speech Baby Signs: How All Kinds Of Talk Books, Toddlers, and Language Choices Choices: Using Choices for Behavior and Language And find an updated list of all strategies here. You might also want to check out this post: Should Your Late Talker Get Speech Therapy?
When I bore my second born son, joy filled the household. Here was a bouncing baby boy whom I would name after my husband’s father as our culture dictates. I loved him so much with a love that is only common between a mother and her son. And he grew up fast. Played hard. Laughed … Don’t Fret, Don’t Stress out: Helpful Lessons learnt raising a late talker Read More »
When a toddler shows signs of speech delay, it becomes a concern for parents. Here is everything you need to know if you have a late talker child.
On average, children take the first steps on their own at the age of 12 months. Many parents perceive this event as a decisive turning point. However, the timing is really of no consequence. Children who start walking early turn out later to be neither more intelligent nor more well-coordinated.
There is nothing that feels as bad as seeing other 2 to 3 year old kids expressing themselves verbally while your kid is stuck with babbling and gesturing. It gets you thinking about what wrong you might have done. ( That was me when my son couldn’t speak) So you take them to a speech … How to Encourage your Toddler to talk Read More »
Learn what being a late talker means, what to do, and grab some free resources. This is information you can trust!
These FREE extension activities go along with the FREE Kinderbrainiac read aloud series on YouTube. CLICK this link to connect and watch Lucy Walker, Nonstop Talker or copy and paste https://youtu.be/Smf8T03FEqE Lacey Walker activities included are: Number bonds Roll and cover Survey Comprehension activities
What is a late talker? This term is thrown around a lot and here is exactly what it means! Plus get your FREE checklist of the 85 most common first words to get your toddler on the right track!
Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker is a great book to read to your students at the beginning of the year. It clearly shows how much can be gained from listening and not talking. Included in this packet are follow-up activities to use after reading the book. It includes: Comprehension Check Writing Prompt Poster to sign vowing to listen more this year Goal sheet to improve in another area Verb search Dialogue practice (there is a lot of dialogue in the book) All sheets are adorned with an adorable owl, just like Lacey Walker! Please follow me on Facebook for tips, tricks, ideas and freebies! Please follow my blog for even more resources! If you need something, please ask via email [email protected] I’d be more than happy to help in any way I can. Thanks for your purchase! I know your time and resources are valuable so I sincerely hope this is a useful tool for your classroom.
Dear Black Girl Can We Talk? by Lolita Walker | Indigo Chapters
What is a late talker? This term is thrown around a lot and here is exactly what it means! Plus get your FREE checklist of the 85 most common first words to get your toddler on the right track!
The holidays are knocking and it is time that you gave your kids a treat of a lifetime that they are going to remember for eons and eons to come. And that includes your late talking child. Maybe over the year, you have not had adequate time to spend with them, to interact and know … Holiday Activities to engage in with your late talking child Read More »
Turn your walker into a mobility extension of you with accessories! Explore safety upgrades with skis, platforms, and lights. Boost comfort with grips and fans. Carry more with trays, baskets, and bags. Reach farther with extenders and tools. Add personality with horns, ornaments, and LED lights! Ma
This freebie goes along with the book Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker by Christianne C. Jones. It is an adorable little story about an owl who likes to talk, but soon learns that listening is important too. A link to the digital read aloud on YouTube is provided in this freebie. Three quick writes about listening are included (You choose which fits your class best!): I listen when... It is important to listen when... I listen and show respect when...
Turn your walker into a mobility extension of you with accessories! Explore safety upgrades with skis, platforms, and lights. Boost comfort with grips and fans. Carry more with trays, baskets, and bags. Reach farther with extenders and tools. Add personality with horns, ornaments, and LED lights! Ma
When kids first learn to walk, they aren’t steady or confident in their motor skills and balance (not that they know this, but their bodies do) and they need ways to control all the joints. T…
and seven more tips to encourage your late walker...
Walkers are assistive devices that help seniors and people with mobility challenges walk safely and independently. There are two main types of walkers: standard walkers and two-wheeled walkers. Standard walkers are more stable but require more effort to use, while two-wheeled walkers are more maneuv
Walkers can be very convenient. How much walkers cost will vary depending on the type of walker you wish to acquire or the particular features you may need.
As a mobility walking aid user, are you frustrated if unable to carry other objects while using the walker? Learn about the upright walker parts to fix this!
Whether it's moving around the house or going to the store, mobility proves to be an essential aspect of leading a happy, healthy life. To have some level of independence, one must be able to move around without the support of another being. This is where mobility aids such as walkers come into place. If you or a loved one are having difficulties staying mobile and active, you may be considering a walker. This guide will "walk" you through the essentials of walkers, including what they are, things to consider, and more.
Upright walkers, also known as stand-up walkers or upright rollators, help individuals with mobility impairments walk upright, improving safety, reducing pain, and encouraging proper posture. Consider factors like weight capacity, height adjustability, and wheel size when choosing one. Popular brand
Research has shown that too much screentime to children under the age of 5 can adversely affect their speech development. In this article, we look at solutions for parents whose kids are too much attached to screens.
Walkers are assistive devices that help seniors and people with mobility challenges walk safely and independently. There are two main types of walkers: standard walkers and two-wheeled walkers. Standard walkers are more stable but require more effort to use, while two-wheeled walkers are more maneuv
Immer wieder erinnert Paul Walkers Tochter an den verstorbenen Schauspieler. Auch zum siebten Todestag teilte Meadow Walker emotionale Worte.
