Communication with toddlers

[Mrbump83]

My 15 month old can only say a few words. Daddy, doggy, tar ( thank you), banana, nanny and numnum ( dummy) oh and clevi goi ( clever girl).
The other day she was throwing a tantrum because she wanted something out the kitchen and I couldn't figure out what she was pointing at. So she went and got her book and pointed at the apple. She wanted an apple that daddy had hid in the cupboard earlier ( she's addicted to fruit, we have to hide it)

So I was thinking of getting her some picture cards of the usual things she wants but can't say the words yet. With the words on the pictures.

But.. I've seem them for sale but they are for Austin children. Now my little girl is very very sociable. She loves people, kids and sharing her stuff with others, food etc. no problems with new situations etc

So could using the cards delay her speech?
And does this mean she finds it easier this way? Hence showing a problem?
X

 

[littlemonkey]

I'd say the fact that she can get the book and show you what she wants rather than just standing in the kitchen throwing a hissy fit suggests she's quite advanced! My son at that age would have just kept pointing! And he's a right chatter box now he's two.

I don't personally see the harm in using the cards, as long as you're using speech with them. So if your daughter picks one out, make a point of saying the word and talking to her about it.

 

[mylullaby]

I was just about to say I think she sounds bloody clever for getting the book and showing you the picture at 15 months!! Amazing. X

 

[babyslog]

We have flash cards! They are brill.
I dont think they delay speech, if anything help.
He knows about 20 cards now and i say 'Noah whats that?' And hold up a card and hell say 'its a...' - Or say 'find mummy the ...' and hell either pick up the card, or if its a ball for instance will go and lookfor his actual ball.

He wasnt saying much for a while, hes 2 in July and hes come on massively recently.
You'll see a massive change in speech as they approach 2. Was told betweek 2/2.5 aswell is a very gd age for speech development xx

 

[LaceyKeo]

I've had issues with my DS.

At two he had maybe five words.

In the last four months he's come on MASSIVELY with his speech, and now has over 50 words/phrases he uses.

None of these are food or drink related. He stands in the kitchen an shouts at me until I figure out what he wants. He literally doesn't even know "eat" or "drink" (yet he can count to 14 and knows his left from his right... Weird child).

I think flash cards are an excellent idea. They massively promote baby signing as a way to bridge the "frustration" gap... I don't see why flash cards would have any sort of negative effect xx

 

[jcox]

We got cards for our little girl they were from Early Learning Centre and I would go through them with her once in a while and we would say the names together. I think it helps speech to be honest. Lexi is three now and talks constantly!

 

[OMGbabyno3]

I think cards sound ok.

I took mine to rhyme and sign which was great as they could sign a lot of things before they could say it

 

[Mrbump83]

Thanks everyone

I'm going to make some then. I'm going to take pictures of all her favourite things, get them printed and laminate them!

We have a-z cards with pictures and if we ask her to bring the doggy ( because that's the only one she knows) she will bring the card with a big D and a dog on it or the pig lol I think she thinks all 4 legged animals are dogs lol

I don't think the apple thing was clever, rather probably luck.. Her books were all on the floor in the living room and she stormed off in a huff, probably saw her fruit book and saw apple and bought it to me. Otherwise I'm pretty sure she would have done the same today when she pestered me for an hour over a banana she had dropped in the drying basket ( took a long too find that one lol)
X

 

[littlemonkey]

Mrbump I think you do your LO a disservice, just thinking to show you the apple I'd say is pretty clever at 15 months.

I just have a two year old who likes to help himself to fruit and cereal (mainly cos that's the only food in cupboards he can reach!).

 

[Ella1979]

I'd say the fact that she can get the book and show you what she wants rather than just standing in the kitchen throwing a hissy fit suggests she's quite advanced! My son at that age would have just kept pointing.

This is what my son does at 18 months. He doesn't have many words. He definitely can't fetch a book and point at an object he wants though, more's the pity as we just get 10 mins or so of frantic pointing and then crying, if I can't work out what he wants!

 

[LaceyKeo]

DS has a shout-thing.

He'll go stand near whatever it is he wants, and shout until I fetch it.

I've just started a thing today where I don't look at him when he shouts, I say "mummy".
As soon as he says mummy, I look at him and ask "yes darlin?" Then figure out what he wants. Then as I get it I say "mummy, drink" and don't hand it to him until he repeats it.

I'm hoping this might help him understand he needs to ask for mummy if he wants something, and slowly start linking words to objects (drink, yogurt, toy).

We'll see. Xx

 

[clairebear22]

My eldest has autism. He is non-verbal. At almost 4 years old he has never said a word. We use PECS as a form of communication. We have only recently started it and use photo's rather than the cards you buy because Jack can't relate injects he knows to a generic picture.

It definitely won't hinder speech, as long as you clearly say the word on the card the idea is the child should eventually say the word as they show you the card. It won't help Jack's speech as we think it'll be years before he speaks.

It's Defoe a fantastic idea if a child is already showing enthusiasm for pictures

Good luck!

 

[Mrbump83]

Thanks guys
We've started making the cards.

It seems so unfair that she understands us so well ( if I ask her to go get her shoes, she will go cupboard and fetch her fav shoes etc) but not the other way round. Hopefully this will help me understand her more!
X x

 

[littlemonkey]

Thanks guys
We've started making the cards.

It seems so unfair that she understands us so well ( if I ask her to go get her shoes, she will go cupboard and fetch her fav shoes etc) but not the other way round. Hopefully this will help me understand her more!
X x

It will come soon enough trust me and then you will have to be very very careful what you say when they're around!!

 

[Tootsmaloy]

You could also try baby sign language. We do it with our 16 month old and she has quite a few signs, it helps avoid tantrums because she can sign for things she wants, whether she's hungry or tired, if she wants more, etc. We understand more easily.

As your little one is 15 months, the language development is advanced so it shouldn't take long for her to pick up the signs. Try www.babysignlanguage.com, there's a dictionary so you can searchf for words. If she loves fruit, try and teach her the fruit signs, perhaps using the book as well or the actual fruit as a point of reference. Make sure you always say and repeat the word with the sign. DD now says the words and uses the sign at the same time.