My 2 year old doesn't speak so well...?

Question

She is 22 months exactly...and she can say words, recite her abc's and count to 10....she just doesnt speak in full sentences outside of the phrase "Come on" when she wants something ;).....I believe it is due to her not being in daycare....I have a sitter at home with her because Im scared to death of daycare until atleast 3yrs *assuming she will be talking by then bc i need her to be able to communicate to me any wrong doings**the sitter is family which I trust*....Nonetheless, are there any suggestions outside of reading to her that may assist her with her speech. I buy leapfrog and all the learning toys I find...but I dont want to feel like Im pressuring her......any other suggestions??.... I know 18 months old that can talk her under a table and it just worries me a little *her doctor says she's fine but i'd like to ask the advice of other parents just because doctors are so by the book so its nice to know what someone actually going through it may have to offer*

Thank you so much guys...So far so good... I think I am just wiggin out bc of smaller and other children closer to her age I've seen that are well spoken and being that this is my first child im sure this wont be the last thing I'm going to ask you all about prematurely....AND

Thank you for being so kind..... :-)
Blessings and Happy Holidays to all.....

I still have an open ear for more suggestions.......thanks again ;-)

Answer 1

My son is 2.5 years old and can say about 10 words no AB Cs I think you are a great mom being so concerned for your child and wanting the best for her. My daughter on the other hand is 3.5 now she was talking in sentences shortly after her 1st birthday. They both are not in day care and yet have excelled on there own time frame and I personally wonder if he may have a problem but I really do not think so. Every child is an individual, they need to be treated that way, You and I both know these kids are not "slow" like that they do communicate so let them be little read ALOT, and know you are being a great parent keep up the good work.

Answer 2

She really is fine, don't compare her to other kids. She is right where she should be for her age. Now that she has started, trust me, her vocabulary will expand until one day you will wonder how she possibly learned so many words. That 18 month old might just be a little advanced, some kids just are, some are normal, and some are delayed. Your daughter sounds like she falls into the normal range. Don't push her to talk, but do talk to her, read to her, narrate what you are doing, like when you are cooking dinner or mailing a letter. All of those things will build her vocabulary and improve her speaking ability. If by the time she is 3 she isn't saying longer sentences, or if she's hard to understand, your community should have lots of resources that can help her, but really, I bet she won't need them. Good Luck.
P.S.- To get her around other kids, start a play group or look for one that is for kids in her age group. Or consider placing her in day care for a couple of hours a day. When my daughter was 2 I put her in a "Pre" pre-school program, it was for only 9 hours a week, and only for 2 year olds, but it gave her a chance to be around other kids, and the teacher taught them lots of songs, which helps with memory and speech.

Answer 3

My daughter is 8 now, but when she was a a toddler, she couldnt speak in sentences at all. Shes been in speech since kindergarden, and shes in third grade now, and just actually graduated speech, and no longer needs it. The best thing to do is just practice with her. Write down and whole bunch of sentences and have repeat it after you say it, like 4 or 5 times. Thats what they do with them in speech class. Hope this helps out a little bit.

Answer 4

Do not worry. She is perfectly fine. If she couldn't say anything at all, then I'd be concerned. Before you know it she will be talking up a storm. Trust me....my son is going to be 3 in Feb. and just a few months ago he went from not saying much to full blrown sentences and questions and now tries to tell me stories. He is in to pretend play and spends his whole time talking up a storm....I mean real words and sentences. Most important is your interaction with her. Include her in everything that you do and ask her to repeat everything you say. She will surprise you.

Answer 5

She 2, relax! If she knows words and can speak broken english, she is on her way. Most kids need some time to learn before they master the english language, some take longer than others. If the doctor says don't worry, don't worry.

Answer 6

As long as she is saying lots of words I wouldn't worry. She will put those words together in no time, and then you will be wondering if she will ever stop talking. All children are different, and they do things in their own time. She will start really talking before you know it. Good luck, and Merry Christmas to you too!!!

Answer 7

My daughter just turned three and has the same issue. She can talk, say words but she cannot put together full sentences. And she gets mad when I don't understand her. Going to pre-school has really help a lot with her, but her Dr. says when she is ready she will talk. She understands it all, just doesn't want to say it yet. I am not really worried about it though, since she can express herself, but her motehr is freaking out.

Answer 8

dont worry about it, she'll be fine. All children progress at different ages. My mom babysits a 3 yr old that does the same thing and a 3 yr old that did the same thing when she was 2.

Answer 9

First of all, going to daycare isn't going to help or worsen this situation. Children who are in daycare do not speak faster/clearer/better then children who are not in daycare.

Second, it's perfectly normal for a 22 month old to speak with words instead of phrases. Alot of children are speaking with phrases by now, but just because your child isn't doesn't mean they aren't "normal".

What you need to do is start talking to her in the smallest phrases possible. Speak as little as possible to her. The smaller the phrases are you say to her, the more she is able to comprehend it.

For example:

Instead of "It's time for your bath now"

Say "It's bathtime"

Because "It's bathtime" is less complicated than "It's time for your bath now", it's easier for her to understand and mimic.

Reading is good as well, but obviously you know that already. Singing does wonders too. Believe it or not kids learn words/phrases faster if they are singing them rather than just saying them.

Play simple games with her. Teach her the phrase "What's that?" and then go around the house and allow her to ask "What's that?" so you can reply "Couch" or "Window" so she can repeat you.

It just takes patience, really. You can't expect her to just wake up speaking in full phrases and sentences..it has to be learned in baby steps.

Answer 10

wow, if i were you id be happy. My daughter just turned 2 and she cant even say her abc's. she says alot of words and can count but thats about it. and she has a 4 y/o to listen to all the time. I'd leave her be and she will start talking better once she gets older.