How to Get Your Toddler to Combine Words: Part 1 Going Beyond Single Words
Several of my upcoming posts will focus on how to target word combinations.
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For toddlers who aren’t yet talking or using words consistently, I usually start with getting them to make some sounds. Then, I get them to make these sounds consistently. I want them to use these sounds intentionally, volitionally, in multiple settings, and with multiple communication partners.
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First session of the day and I’m pumped. My little guy sees me and a huge smile spreads across his face.
He immediately runs into the living room and retrieves the beach ball. He happily shouts, “baw, baw, baw” and throws it to me.
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This year I’ve decided to do a year-in-review post.
I’ll begin by sharing highlights from my own year, then provide a list of my top posts from 2014 and conclude with some announcements for the upcoming year.
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Every year I compile a list of my favorite toys and games. These are materials I use during my speech therapy sessions as well as with my daughter and family and friends.
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What do you do to increase your toddler’s ability to initiate communication?
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With Halloween right around the corner, I decided to get my act together and write a post on a favorite Halloween themed book for toddlers. Preschoolers like it too.
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How to promote communication without frustration.
So, you’re a parent or a speech language pathologist (SLP) who is new to early intervention and have tried implementing some of the following communication elicitation strategies:
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A few weeks ago, another My Toddler Talks reader emailed with the following question:
“We have two children, a 3.5 year old boy and a 20 month old girl. We did not have any speech issues with our son, however our daughter is not speaking as much as we believe she should be able to at this point. She has maybe 10 words. She will resort to biting or pinching at times if she becomes frustrated. I really want to be proactive about this. Do you have any suggestions or resources?”
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Since I was a little girl every summer, my family and I vacationed at the Jersey shore. Now that my daughter is almost 2 years old, I have been particularly excited to bring her to the beach so she can experience the magic and wonder of the seashore.
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If you’ve been reading my blog or have read My Toddler Talks, you know I value routines and consistency. Toddlers need consistency and familiar routines to thrive. To further encourage your toddler’s language development, consistency amongst the village is also needed. Since these trusted members are helping to raise and care for your precious little one(s), they should also know how to develop your toddler’s communication.
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“It’s takes a village to raise a child.”
Having an active toddler of my own and the support of a several key people, I agree with this proverb. I would also assert that it takes a village to develop a child’s language skills. Before I tell you HOW to use your village to encourage your child’s language development, I want to stress WHY parents need the support of a village.
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I don’t know about you, but I’m super excited for spring. Since it’s been a VERY long winter for many of us, I’ve decided to write a post on some of my favorite spring books for toddlers. Reading tips and extension activities are included.
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Since I’ve introduced some of the reasons why a toddler pulls or points but not talk, let’s talk about how we can encourage this toddler to more effectively communicate her wants and needs.
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“Our toddler has gotten into this habit of pulling us to, pointing to or handing us the things she wants without actually saying or making any sound when she wants it. If we don't give her what she wants she start screaming and crying (literally). I don't want to reward the screaming behavior but I also want to encourage her to speak, so I'm a little stuck there.”
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Ever have one of those moments when you hear or see yourself on a video and think, “Is that really me? Am I really doing that? I had one of those aha moments last month when I was watching a video of my daughter saying a new word.
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Every year I write a post with some of my favorite toys for toddlers and preschoolers (the preschooler post will be up at www.scanlonspeech.com in the next few days). Since I treat many toddlers with language delays, I have a pretty good knack for selecting toys and using them to promote language development. Now that I have a toddler myself, I created this list with my little girl in mind.
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Before I created the My Toddler Talks website, I blogged about toddlers over at my other website Scanlon Speech Therapy. I started blogging back in early 2011. I still blog at Scanlon Speech but mostly on speech, language, and literacy topics related to preschool and early school aged children. Over there, I also have guest posts and interviews with well-respected speech language pathologists and/or other childhood experts.
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“Mommy, mommy, I wanna play. What about me? It’s my turn now!"
If you provide services to families with more than one child, I’m sure these comments sound pretty familiar. I’ve treated and currently work with several families who have multiple young children. When ALL children are present, things get pretty interesting.
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Setting it up means you have designed an environment or situation that supports communication. Doing so motivates your child to talk.
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