teach toddler to talk

I am on a mission to teach my fifteen month old to speak. He used to say “momma” & “kitty cat” all the time, but now he’s just “babbling” & has not picked up on any new words. I did some research & found some helpful techniques that I would like to pass on to you. I took some notes from an article I read on the Club Mom website posted by M. Palmer, a college student majoring in Education in Texas.

1. Read to Your Child : Research shows that reading to your child is directly linked to oral development. Patterns of language are learned & vocabulary is increased. I read to my boy at least at bedtime & sometimes throughout the day.

2. Model Good Language Skills : Try not to use baby talk with your child. Speaking the way you normally speak shows children the way our language really works. I do not say such things like “baba” when referring to the bottle.

3. Give a Running Commentary : Let your child know what is happening as you do something to let him know the steps you're taking. My boy loves to “help” do dishes so I say the names of the objects we place in the dishwasher … like cup, fork, spoon, etc.

4. Give him labels for objects, his actions & his feelings : Let your child know that the four-legged creature running around the house is a dog. When he cries, let him know that he's feeling sad or hurt. Remember that everything around him is new. Giving him words for these things is also helping him understand the world around him. I have done this & that is why my boy knows “kitty cat” … I am trying to teach him the word “mad” for when he has his little “tantrum” when I keep him from doing something … “Oh, my, you are so mad … aren’t you ?” And I try to emphasize the word “mad” …

5. Ask questions & wait for a response : Asking questions gives your child a chance to communicate. After you've asked a question, wait at least five seconds before you jump in. This not only shows that you really are waiting for a response but it gives him a chance to process what you said & figure out what he's going to say. I made the mistake of asking a question & immediately answering for him. I am going to try this technique & wait a few seconds for him to “respond” …

6. Give cues when needed : Sometimes your child will need cues as to the words he wants to say. Rather than just ask "Which cereal do you want?" ask "Do you want Cheerios or Kix?" & hold up the box for each as you say its name. If someone asks your child "What's your name, little guy?" tell your child to say his name rather than answer the person for him. Being specific makes sense to me …

7. Decipher your child's efforts to communicate : Maybe he frowns every time you offer him green beans or he shows you a ball as he tries to talk. Your child is giving you clues as to what he's saying. Look at what he's doing or what is around him & repeat what you think he might be trying to say. "Oh, you want to play ball?" This helps him feel that you can communicate with him. I have a throw blanket we use to cuddle on the couch and when my boy sees me fold it up he goes over to the cabinet where it is stored and opens it up for me to put the blanket in … I find that to be “non-verbal” communication. My boy also goes over to his high chair when I say “hungry, are you hungry ?” …

I read somewhere else, I forget where, that “non-verbal” communication is a great indication that our babies at least understand words even when they can not yet say the words … I also read on the baby-center website another suggestion I thought would be useful in teaching our babies to speak (again, I paraphrase) : … Speak in short sentences ... Eliminating a word or two might help your child understand. For example, say "Eat your toast" instead of "Aren't you hungry? Why don't you eat your toast?" Possibly too many words are overwhelming & the basic message is lost. Try to use positive instructions ("Eat your toast") instead of negative instructions ("Don't throw your toast on the floor"). Remember that listening is an essential part of language acquisition. I am working on a word list that I am trying to teach my boy. Single word commands, instructions, objects, etc. I like such words as “hungry?”, “milk?”, & “nap?” … among many others …I do believe the simple sentences will help my boy learn to speak …  

I also read somewhere : Another thing to think about is that a hearing problem can cause language delays. Talk to your pediatrician if you suspect a problem. I do not have this concern at this point because my boy does respond through his actions … not verbally, but through his actions … but it is something to consider if you have further concerns …