Toodlers talking?

Question

Any advice on how to teach an 18 month how to speak.

Answer 1

Lots of talking to them. When you talk to yourself talk outloud(long as it is appropraite) I also Incorporated sign language. I would ask her a question and then baby sign it at the same time. Are you hungry-then I would make the hungry sign. Do you want milk?-I would make the milk sign. My daughter was signing before she could talk. Oh and no worries you dont have to be fluent in signing to get your little one to express themselves just pick up a book at the local used book store or new book store there are tons of books out there. Have fun! Repetition is the key!!! good luck

Answer 2

As everyone here says, children learn language by hearing language. Don't dumb it down too much, but bring as many words as you can to every interaction.

That being said, you can "force" a child to use words. We are in some ways pre-programmed to speak at a certain age, and kids to speak later often catch up (or even somtimes surpass) kids who speak early. If your child isn't talking at 18 months, try teaching sign language so that he/she can communicate with you without using words. Sign language is an actual language, btw, and recognized as such around the world.

I have three children. My first didn't speak (well, he did vocalize "mama" and "dada"), but he did communicate by grunting and pointing... UNTIL HE WAS TWO!! The day after his second bday, he busted out with the word "happy", and then it was like the floodgates opened. Within three months, I had people commenting to me on how incredibly articulate he was, and no one would believe that he hadn't been speaking only a few months before. My second started verbalizing recognizable words at 7 or 8 months, so she was actually earlier than normal. And my third grunted and pointed and didn't say any words except "mama" or "dada" until about 20 months of age, and now, 6 months later, she is the most advanced speaker at her age of all my children.

My brother was like this too... he didn't talk until he was about three years old, then one day, out of the blue, asked my mom for a cookie and a glass of milk using a complete sentence. My mom just about keeled over! :-)

So just keep modeling good language, and watch to make sure they understand (they do what you ask when you request something, they look when you point out something... you know, all the interactive stuff that means they're picking up what you're saying!) Now, if the child isn't interactive at all, see your doctor, because lack of interaction is one sign of autism... but there's more to that, so you have to see a trained professional. Also see a doctor if the child starts to speak and then stops. But other than that, just keep talking and let your child develop as he/she is meant to! And have fun... these ages are SOOO precious!

Answer 3

Well the best way to teach a child this age to talk, since I have a 23 month old,is to have little people conversations with them. Example: Little Timmy will be thirsty after his sandwich. Instead of just fixing him something and giving it to him, ask him what he would like to drink. Then offer him 2 choices such as juice or milk. Show him the choices which ever one he points to tell him what it is. Say he picks juice. Oh you want the juice. Juice is yummy. I like juice. Repetition is the key here. Also don't give in when your little darling starts grunting his choices and then falls down on the floor in a total meltdown when you have no idea what they want. It is important to stand your ground and make them try to say what they want, when they do learn how. Hope this helps, good luck to you. Don't forget to cherish these times, they grow up so quickly.

Answer 4

Talk to them in an animated but not "baby talk" voice. Make even ordinary things seem exciting. Take her everywhere you go. Places like supermarkets are great for learning. Things are colorful and there are lots of things to count, sort, and read. My son talked very early...about 10 months but 18 months is well within normal range so I wouldn't worry about her yet. Every child develops at their own pace. My other child didn't string a sentence together until she was almost 2.

Answer 5

Talk and read to them constantly. Do a running commentary on what you are doing and what you will be doing next and later on in the day. Read out loud anything you would read silently to make the connection that printed words are everywhere. Point to road signs and tell them what they say. When they verbalize, mimic the sounds back. When they say dada or mama, point to the appropriate person and repeat what they have said. Repeat any sound they make consistently for a particular object and then tell them the correct word, ie baby says baba for ball, pick up the ball and say baba, yes that is a ball and clap. Positive reinforcements for efforts help a lot also.

Answer 6

You can start by changing the WAY you speak to the child. Most (not all) people talk to babies like they are babies, illiterate beings. That is simply not true. If you talk to them the same way you talk to everyone else, they can begin to build their vocabulary.
No using nicknames for things, like a bottle is called a bottle- not a ba-ba. Water is not calleed wa-wa. You dont have to correct the baby when they are learning to talk, just keep emphasizing the correct terms for everything.

Reading is a great way for them to learn how to speak, they listen to your tone of voice and try to imitate it.

When my kids were little, i was always "over" descriptive with things, like instead of saying "look at the car", i would say look at that red car- its fast!. When they bring you something to see, tell them what it is.

Singing songs is good also.

If your baby has not yet mastered at least 6 words, and if he/she has had a hard time with ear infections, it might pay to get their hearing tested. My son was not progressing like he should and they found out his ears were infected. They eventually opted to put tubes in his ears (about 4 months ago) and his talking has increased 12-fold!

Finally- you must also accept that kids all begin to do things at different times, so there really is no "norm" to follow. When the baby is ready- they will talk, they just need help!

Good luck! (oh yeah- get some baby einstein movies! those are great!)

Answer 7

Reading to a child everyday is the number one way to teach language. Label everything in the enviornment as well. An 18 month old should be saying a few words, it isn't until they turn two that they really start to talk.

Answer 8

Read to them... encourage them to repeat words you say.
Start with simple one syllable words.
BOOK... CHAIR...
Things around them that they will need to know.

When my daughter was 4 she was molested and lost interest in speaking...I held her hand to my throat and mouth so she could FEEL the words and hear them like they do for deaf children.
She soon came around and started speaking again.

When to be concerned



Babies with hearing problems stop babbling at around six months. If yours isn't making any sounds (or even attempting to) or eye contact with you, consult your doctor. While some kids start forming words at nine months, many will wait until they are 13 or 14 months. If your child isn't saying any words by 15 months, or you still can't understand a word she's saying, discuss the matter with your doctor or health visitor.

see more at the link

Answer 9

Sing, sing, sing. My two year old was singing much clearer that he was talking when he was 18 months. They pick up so much through music and song. Also, talk to him - wherever you go talk about everything you see; when you are out for a walk, at the grocery store, in your car- everywhere. He'll pick it up.
Then when he is 12 years old I'll also help you teach him to keep quiet.

Answer 10

Well, 18 month old really don't talk much- not until about age 2, but you can read to him or her, or teach them sign-language if you are worried about communication. Try this first one "please". You rub your hand on your chest. If they want a drink, tell him "say please", do the sign with your hand, the do the sign with his hand, and say "good boy!!" Then give him the juice. Repeat this process until they say "please" themself. Then try "all done" in sign lanuguage, "more", and "thankyou" once they get one down, teach them another sign. It really works, and cuts back on a whole lot of whinning.

oh, go to your local library for a sign language book, or bookstore. They will even have books about teaching your baby to sign.

Answer 11

read and point out pictures, ask them what they see
use common words over and over, cup, water, hungry, ect.
speak slowly and clearly
look at your child as you speak
run an all day commentary on your daily activities.
name body parts as you dress and bathe.

They learn words that interest them at first. if they have a favorite animal, toy, blanket or so on, use those to start with. Cat, cat, cat. alway smile and do things to keep them interested. If you don't have an animal, perhaps let them visit one at a friends or zoo. Kitty cat was the first word (other than mom or dad) of all of mine.

Don't correct them when they are trying, it will set them back and destroy their confidence.

good luck (soon enough you won't be able to keep them quiet)