Communication and young children.

My youngest child is 14months and hardly speaks. He says Dada, Mum mum and Lala and Na - na. He has a very limited vocabulary. My big kids were speaking more at this age especially my big boy. But this doesn't mean he doesn't communicate or understand. A good example of this is when we went out the other day. He was walking in the shopping centre when he discovered a small bin. He was interested in what it was. We told him it was a bin. He toddled off and found some rubbish on the ground and walked back to deposit it in the bin. To be honest I was astounded. My girl was  18mths when she first did that and my boy was 16mths. He understood that rubbish was to go in this bin. It is hard sometimes to think because young children don't talk so much that they don't understand but they do.

My bub loves music. He is my cranky child, often crying. But I put some rock music on - watch that boy dance! Music and dance is a great way to communicate. To show some emotion even. It certainly helps me.

As I said my bub is a cranky child. He does smile and laugh though. I just adore his facial expressions. Even from a young age he had some amazing expressions. And they most definitely show how he is feeling.

So even though my youngest child doesn't speak he can communicate. We understand each other. He now gives the best kisses too so I know he loves us. And without condition we love him - cranky or happy!